Harshal's career best keeps India alive

Seamer Harshal Patel and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal have led India to a convincing 48-run win over South Africa in the third Twenty20 International at Visakhapatnam.

Tuesday's win keeps alive the hosts' hopes of success in the five-match series, after South Africa won the first two matches.

Harshal made good use of his subtle change of pace to pick up 4-25 and Chahal took 3-20 in his four overs in a strong bowling performance from India.

It's 31-year-old Harshal's best T20I bowling figures to date, from his 11 matches.

Set a target of 180 to clinch the series after victories in Delhi and Cuttack, the tourists never got going on a tricky surface and were bundled out for 131 with five deliveries left.

Heinrich Klaasen, who smashed a match-winning 81 in the previous game in Cuttack, top-scored with 29 as South Africa failed to build any meaningful partnerships.

Put in to bat, the hosts had a flying start through brisk half-centuries from openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (57 in 35 balls) and Ishan Kishan (54 in 35 balls).

But India lost their momentum after Gaikwad offered a return catch to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj to be out on the final delivery of the 10th over.

It ended a 97-run opening stand and India looked set for a total of around 200 at that stage.

South Africa's bowlers then dismissed Shreyas Iyer (14) and Kishan in quick succession but Hardik Pandya, with 31 from 21 balls, took India to 5-179.

However, Hardik Pandya managed a few hits towards the end to give India's innings a late boost with his knock of 31 from 21 balls.

The penultimate match of the series will be played in Rajkot on Friday before Sunday's final T20 in Bengaluru.