WATCH: Shreyas Iyer gets a reprieve as Quinton de Kock misses an easy stumping

Shreyas Iyer extended his fine T20I form, laying the foundation for India’s big innings total in the first of five T20Is against South Africa on Thursday . The right-hander walked in at the fall of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s wicket in the seventh over, who’d fallen to Wayne Parnell for a 15-ball 23. Iyer began with positive intent, and looked to exert early pressure on spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.

On the third ball of the 11th over of the innings bowled by left-arm spinner Maharaj, Iyer charged down the track but the bowler adjusted brilliantly, shortening his length. Iyer altered his shot to a defensive push, but the ball turned big and spun past his bat. Quinton de Kock, who was somewhat blinded by the batter, failed to gather the ball, missing a definite stumping chance with the batter on 25 off 12.

Watch: Shreyas Iyer being upset at Brendon McCullum for changing batting order after his dismissal

Iyer, who has scored three back-to-back unbeaten fifties against Sri Lanka earlier this year, had tonked three sixes till that point in the innings.

Watch the missed chance here:

pic.twitter.com/7C747JwbbV

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Maharaj was struck for two sixes and as many fours off the first four balls of the next over by Ishan Kishan, before the left-hander was holed out ar long-on, having successfully reviewed a DRS call earlier. 

Kishan stroked 76 off 48, with 11 fours and three sixes. India were 150/2 from 15 overs at the time of writing, with Iyer unbeaten on 35 off 23, joined by skipper Rishabh Pant.