Dinesh Karthik has scored his first ever T20I half-century for the Indian cricket team against South African cricket team in the ongoing fourth T20I of the series between the two nations. The Proteas currently have a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
South African cricket team captain Temba Bavuma won the toss again and asked the home side to bat first at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot. India struggled to get going as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer were dismissed in single digits. Captain Rishabh Pant looked out of touch as well, as he departed to the dressing room after scoring 17 runs off 23 balls.
Ishan Kishan scored 27 runs at a strike rate of 103. At one stage, India were 81/4 at 12.5 overs, and it looked like the South African cricket team would restrict them below 150. However, Hardik Pandya’s 31-ball 46 and Dinesh Karthik’s 27-ball 57 ensured that the Men in Blue set a 170-run target for their opponents.
Karthik, who won the Man of the Match in India’s first T20I against South Africa back in 2006, scored a fifty against the same opponents 16 years later. His knock comprised nine fours and two sixes. Here’s what he said after the first innings:
“I am very happy with what I did today. I believed that we could get 80-85 runs in the last seven overs. Risk is something that you have to absorb in T20 cricket and something you have to do. (On the feeling of still being able to contribute to India) Whenever that question is asked, I feel old.”
Twitter reacts as Dinesh Karthik helps India score 169 runs in their 20 overs
Fans lauded Karthik for his fantastic fifty against the South African cricket team. Here are some of the top reactions to his performance:
Sunil Gavaskar said "Don't look at the age of DK, if he is not in the flight to Melbourne, it will be a big surprise".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik. No. 19. The Finisher. pic.twitter.com/XEDigIgzgp
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik is an absolute weapon at the crease 🔥 #INDvSA
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) June 17, 2022
India have scored 73 in the last 5 overs. Dinesh Karthik did the job again, all happy faces in the dressing room. pic.twitter.com/Mj5sUTuLBW
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik in the T20 series vs South Africa: 1*(2), 30*(21), 6(8) & 55(27). pic.twitter.com/rEgl0Ahd5h
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 17, 2022
Fireworks from Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya have helped India post a competitive total 🎆
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2022
📝 Scorecard: https://t.co/szePMPU59b #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/YdsQjNJJur
Dinesh Karthik is in unbelievable touch. What a finisher!
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik : the finisher of Indian Cricket Team 🔥🤍 pic.twitter.com/wf8ZHiKIbQ
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) June 17, 2022
Between Dinesh Karthik's first T20I and his first T20I fifty, we all grew up pic.twitter.com/3toXIiqCz3
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2022
Dinesh Karthik 2.0 in Indian cricket.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 17, 2022
