Proteas batting collapse hands Karthik-inspired India to T20 series level win

India has taken the T20 series against the Proteas into a fifth game after they crushed South Africa by 82 runs in the fourth T20 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Friday.

South Africa's two-faced performance on a two-paced pitch showed how they restricted the hosts to 169/6, despite leaking 73 runs in the last five overs.

SCORECARD | India v Proteas, 4th T20

This meant South Africa, who won the toss and chose to field first, had a taller target than expected and hardly got going, being bowled out for 87 in 16.5 overs.

The sides will meet again in Bengaluru on Sunday, with India having all the momentum after bouncing back from the first two T20 losses.

SA's batting that lost captain Temba Bavuma (8*) to an elbow injury sustained when diving for the crease never got going.

The returning Quinton de Kock (14) only hit two fours in his 13-ball knock before he was run out by Harshal Patel.

That fifth-over dismissal was followed up by Dwaine Pretorius's (0) exit at the hands of Rishabh Pant and Avesh Khan to leave South Africa at 26/2.

That became 45/3 two balls into the ninth over when second T20 hero Heinrich Klaasen (8) was trapped in front by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/21).

14 runs and two overs later, David Miller (9) was castled by Harshal Patel, effectively ending SA's resistance.

Rassie van der Dussen (20) had started faster than normal, but India's bowling constricted him. It came as no surprise when he holed out to Ruturaj Gaikwad at deep mid-wicket off Avesh Khan (4/18).

Khan then hit Marco Jansen (12) on the back of his helmet before coaxing a catch to Gaikwad off Khan.

Keshav Maharaj (0) and Anrich Nortje (1) offered little by way of resistance before Lungi Ngidi became Axar Patel's first scalp of the game.

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