South Africa win rain-interrupted T20I by five wickets

South Africa chased down the revised target of 152 runs to defeat India by five wickets in a rain-interrupted T20I match at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
After being asked to bat first by South Africa captain Aiden Markram, India were propelled to a score of 180/7 by half centuries from Rinku Singh (unbeaten on 68 from 39 balls) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (56 off 36). There were three balls still left in the Indian innings when rain held up play. Eventually, the DLS Method was used to set a target of 152 off 15 overs.
Opener Reeza Hendricks scored 49 off 27 balls while most of other South African batters got off to starts as the hosts chased down the target without really breaking into a sweat. The only time they were under pressure in the second innings was when they lost three wickets in quick succession including that of Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen.
The first of the three T20Is was washed out in Durban on Sunday. There was a chance of the second T20I at St George’s Park in Gqeberha also being interrupted by rain, but the match started as scheduled after some initial concerns.
India surprisingly chose to leave out Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi from the side, while Ruturaj Gaikwad also missed out due to illness. India and South Africa will also lock horns in three ODIs and two Tests.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India come into the T20I bilateral having closed a 4-1 win against Australia in the five-T20I series at home earlier this month. South Africa on the other hand are being led by Aiden Markram, who was appointed the full-time T20I captain earlier this year.
Rinku Singh solidified his standing as a reliable finisher by scoring his maiden half-century, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav displayed his trademark style, guiding India to a total of 180 for seven in the second T20 clash.