WATCH: Finisher Dinesh Karthik Smacks 21 Runs Off 5 Deliveries To Strengthen His Contention For T20 WC

Dinesh Karthik made a comeback to the Indian side after an impressive stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. After getting to play only 2 deliveries in the first T20I against South Africa, the revamped finisher smacked 30 runs in 21 deliveries, with 21 runs in the last 5 balls he faced. 

Coming in to bat in the 14th over when India were at 98/5, having just lost their top scorer, Shreyas Iyer, the 37-year-old batter held the crease. Dinesh Karthik scored just 8 runs off 14 deliveries at the end of the 18th over as the score read 118/6. 

Karthik smacked a four against Anrich Nortje in the 19th over, doing well enough on the 5th delivery to swivel and pull the short delivery backward of square leg, which went to the fence with a couple of bounces. Nortje delivered the last ball full and outside off. Karthik opened the face of the bat and steered it behind square on the off-side for a four. 

In the next over, Karthik smacked Pretorius for consecutive sixes on the 4th & 5th delivery. Karthik first slapped the delivery over mid-off for a flat six, following it up with a straight six back over the bowler's head, clearing the fence with another six. 

Also Read: Scorecard

Team India managed to post 148/6 courtesy of this finishing by Dinesh Karthik after being put in to bat first. However, South Africa chased down the target in 18.2 overs with 4 wickets remaining, as Heinrich Klaasen played a match-winning knock of 81 runs in 46 deliveries with 7 fours & 5 sixes. South Africa built a 2-0 lead against India in the 5-match T20I series, with 3 matches yet to be played. This match was played at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.