DK was in sublime touch tonight. © BCCI
It's 2-2
What a comeback from India!! They appeared lost after going down 2-0 in the series, only to stage a spirited comeback. And this was a proper demolition job tonight. They absolutely hammered South Africa to pick up a 82-run win. The visitors were in control for the major part of India's innings before DK exploded at the death to give India the upper hand. They capitalised on it big time with the bowlers coming to the party. You got to say, India now have all the momentum going into the series decider on Sunday.
Chahal finishes with a bang
That's two on the night for him. Yuzi Chahal has been excellent and he finishes off his spell with Nortje's wicket. South Africa are 8 down after 15 overs.
Curtains?
A triple wicket over from Avesh Khan has pushed South Africa on the brink of a massive loss here. First Rassie holes out to the man at deep midwicket and then Jansen miscues one to get caught by the same fielder. And then off the final ball of the over, Keshav Maharaj departs for a two-ball duck. Avesh has four in his kitty now and he still has one more over to try and pick up a fifth wicket.
Massive wicket
That should seal the deal for India even though we are only halfway through the run chase. Harshal Patel gets the big fish. David Miller, the in-form batsman, has been castled and you can see the delight in the Indian camp. South Africa need something extremely special from here to ensure the scoreline doesn't become 2-2.
Chahal strikes
South Africa are slipping. They need a special knock from someone just like the one DK came up with for India. Another batter bites the dust as Klaasen fails to connect while attempting the sweep shot. He is trapped plumb in front. He also takes a review alongside him. 45/3 now.
A six-ball duck
The move to have Pretorius at 3 isn't always going to pay off and it is one such night. He looked completely rattled by Avesh's short-pitched deliveries because of the uneven bounce and another delivery on the shortish length fetches the bowler a wicket. Pretorius tried to pull but only managed to edge it to the keeper. India are in command here.
Needless wicket
That should have been avoided. De Kock doesn't connect one properly and the ball rolls towards the offside and is well within the bowler's reach. The two batters are indecisive in their attempt to take a risky single. De Kock advances a couple of times and realises he can't make it back in time and just gives up only for Harshal to complete the run out.
Early blow
The bounce is quite unpredictable on this surface and Avesh Khan is really troubling the batters. On one such occasion, Bavuma defends a delivery on the backfoot and then does some damage to his elbow. He is in serious pain and after a lot of deliberation, decides to walk back to the dressing room. He is retired hurt as Pretorius walks out.
Target 170
Those runs at the death were absolutely crucial. India wouldn't have anticipated getting anywhere closer to 170 at one stage but DK went on a rampage at the death to carry them to 169. Hardik Pandya did his best earlier as well to repair the damage caused by the South Africans earlier in the evening. The surface isn't the easiest but it will be interesting to see if dew has an impact during the chase.
1st 50
What a terrific knock!! DK smashes a six to reach his fifty off just 26 balls. We are truly witnessing a comeback king at his best. Surely, he has to be on the plane to Australia this year?
Six and OUT
He just smashed a delightful six off Ngidi but couldn't replicate the result off the next delivery. Shamsi takes a good catch near the boundary and Hardik has to walk back for 46. India are 146/5 with 10 balls still remaining in the innings.
16-run over
Did I say 160? Make it 170 now. That total is definitely on the cards with DK batting like a dream. He is toying with South Africa now and can hurt them further in these final 12 deliveries.
Hardik-DK tee off
These two are the key here. Hardik is getting into his groove and DK has teed off as well. DK has smashed three fours off Keshav Maharaj and India have some momentum behind them. The hosts are 124/4 after 17 overs. Surely, 160 on the cards now?
Pant falls
The Indian captain was almost dismissed in the previous over when Maharaj was agonisingly close to pulling off a stunning catch but the left arm spinner gets his man off his own bowling in the next over anyway. Pant wanted to slap a delivery that was really wide but is caught at short third man. India lose number 4 as DK walks in.
Halfway mark - SA in control
India are 56/3 after 10 overs and spin was finally introduced by Bavuma. Pant was itching to break free but couldn't find the boundary. It is a high risk approach given there are still 10 more overs left. Dinesh Karthik and Axar Patel are waiting in the dugout. The surface isn't the easiest especially when the seamers bowl the hard length but India still need something close to 150 to fight.
India in trouble
Wow, Ishan is distraught. He cannot believe he has done this. Anrich Nortje comes into the attack and Ishan wants to play the ramp shot but only manages to edge it to the keeper. South Africa are delighted. The top 3 is gone inside seven overs.
Shreyas departs
Well, he has been troubled by the South African pacers this series and once again it's a pacer that gets to remove him. The returning Marco Jansen pitches one on a good length and comes back in a touch to hit the batsman on the pad. That looked close but the umpire ruled it not out, only for South Africa to reverse the decision by taking a review.
Early wicket
Ruturaj Gaikwad has to walk back. He hit a fifty last game but it's not going to be his evening today. Ngidi bowled one at a good length just outside off and Ruturaj ended up edging behind. That's an early strike.
Toss - South Africa opt to bowl
Bavuma doesn't know what to expect from this surface so he opts for the safer option which is to bowl first. Unfortunately for the visitors, Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell are missing out due to injuries. Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi come in for the duo. As expected, Quinton de Kock is back as well and he replaces Reeza Hendricks in the XI. India are going in with an unchanged XI.
Teams:
India (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan
South Africa (Playing XI): Temba Bavuma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje
Build up
A fantastic performance in the third T20I from the home side has kept this series alive. But to ensure it goes down to the wire on Sunday, India will have to bring out their A game once again tonight in this fourth T20I. In terms of results, this is where India were expecting themselves to be despite missing a few first choice regulars. However, South Africa have been superb so far to take a 2-1 lead. But it will be interesting to see if the balance can shift given the momentum is with India now.
The spinners, who were carted around in the first two games, came up with a great performance in the last game. They will look to continue in the same vein tonight in Rajkot. In terms of batting, Ishan Kishan has been in great touch for the hosts and if he can continue to impress, he will remain on course to being the backup opener on the flight to Australia later this year. Skipper Rishabh Pant would love to get some runs under his belt considering the re-emergence of Dinesh Karthik in the T20I set up.
Even though this management loves giving players a long rope, they might be tempted to unleash Umran Malik tonight. For South Africa, Quinton de Kock looks all set to make his return. If he does return, the visitors will fancy their chances of closing out the series tonight in a few hours time. Welcome to the live blog for this 4th game of the series. Hopefully, we get to witness a cracker.