Dinesh Karthik was promoted to No.4, ahead of in form batter Suryakumar Yadav, as India faced a steep chase ahead in the 3rd T20I against South Africa. During his short stay, he hit four sixes and as many fours en route his 21-ball 46. 

Watch his boundaries here: 

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This happened as India didn’t have their best start, as they were two wickets down in the first two overs itself. Skipper Rohit Sharma was sent to the pavilion in the second ball itself after Kagiso Rabada bowled a brilliant inswinger. In the second over, it was Shreyas Iyer who lost his wicket, as he wasn’t able to anticipate the bounce of the Wayne Parnell’s delivery.

Initially, the decision to promote Dinesh Karthik seemed to have worked as the wicket-keeper batter hit two sixes and a four off Parnell as India managed 39 runs in the last two powerplay overs. It was due to Karthik and Rishabh Pant’s consistent boundaries that India finished with 64 runs on board after the powerplay, 16 runs more than their opponents. 

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In the next over, Karthik hit two consecutive sixes of South African spinner Keshav Maharaj. However, Maharaj had the last laugh, as Karthik trying to be creative, lost his wicket as he went for a reverse scoop but missed. 

Then, the World No. 2 batter Suryakumar Yadav walked into bat. However, he couldn’t recreate his magic as he was sent back in the very next over. Just after hitting a six, Yadav got out to Dwaine Pretorius, with Stubbs taking a superb diving catch coming in from deep extra cover. 

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After that, the South African bowling attack started chipping away wickets continuously. After hitting two fours and a six, Harshal Patel found David Miller at long-off and off Lungi Ngidi. Axar Patel got dismissed for nine runs off of eight.