India claim T20 series

Suresh Raina scored a quick-fire 43 and grabbed the key wicket of David Miller as India defeated hosts South Africa by seven runs to claim a 2-1 victory in their Twenty20 International series at Newlands on Saturday.

Sent in to bat, India, without injured captain ViratKohli, posted 172 for seven in their 20 overs before restricting South Africa to 165 for six.

Raina's runs came from just 27 balls as he caressed five fours and a six, putting on 65 for the second wicket with opener ShikharDhawan (47 from 40 balls).

Seamer Junior Dala (3-35) was the pick of the home bowlers as he posted career-best figures.

South Africa made a sluggish start to their reply and were always behind the required run-rate.

Explosive Miller (24 from 23 balls) was elevated to open the batting, but was bogged down by the line of the Indian bowlers and fell to Raina (1-27 in three overs) as he tried to up the tempo.

Only captain JP Duminy (55 from 41 balls) and debutant Christiaan Jonker (49 from 24 balls) were able to muster innings of substance. South Africa required 19 off the final over bowled by the excellent Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-24), but were restricted to just a single boundary to fall short of their target.

SCORES IN BRIEF

INDIA: 172-7 in 20 overs ( Dhawan 47, Raina 43; Morris 2-43, Dala 3-35) 

SOUTH AFRICA: 165-6 in 20 overs (Duminy 55, Jonker 49; Kumar 2-24)

Result: India won by 7 runs

India won the three-match series 2-1.