Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh hit rapid half-centuries as India recovered from a poor start in the second Twenty20 international against South Adrica at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

India, sent in to bat, were 180 for seven when rain ended the innings with three balls remaining in their 20 overs.

Indian captain Suryakumar hit 56 off 36 balls and the left-handed Singh was unbeaten with a career-best 68 off 39 deliveries.

Rain had threatened throughout the innings and it finally became heavy enough for the umpires to take the players off the field after South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee took two wickets off successive balls.

Mohammed Siraj was walking out to face the hat-trick delivery when play was stopped.

Suryakumar went to the crease with the total on six for two after two overs. Both openers, Yashavi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, were dismissed without scoring.

The precarious situation did not deter the captain and Tilak Varma (29) from going on the attack against some erratic bowling. They added 49 off 25 balls.

Suryakumar and Singh then put on 70 off 49 balls.

Coetzee took three for 32 but left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was the most economical bowler, taking one for 18 in four overs.

The first match in the three-game series was rained off without a ball bowled in Durban on Sunday.

Brief scores:

India 180-7 in 19.3 overs (S. Yadav 56, R. Singh 68 not out; G. Coetzee 3-32).

Match situation: South Africa need 152 runs in 15 overs to win.