South African pace bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk took 4-25 as the USA gave India an almighty scare in the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav struck a sparkling unbeaten 84 off 49 balls to rescue the hosts from 77-6 to a competitive 161-9 in their opening match in Mumbai.

Van Schalkwyk – who played senior provincial cricket for Western Province and Free State before heading to the USA – took three wickets in the sixth over to leave defending champions and overwhelming tournament favourites in disarray at 46-4 at a stunned Wankhede Stadium.

But Suryakumar paced his innings brilliantly, shepherding the tail and smashing 10 fours and four sixes as India plundered 75 off the final six overs.

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After USA captain Monank Patel won the toss and opted to field, his decision was rewarded with the prize wicket of the dangerous Abishek Sharma off the first ball he faced.

The left-handed Abishek attempted a typically flamboyant back-foot drive for six off the bowling of Ali Khan to be caught on the cover boundary by Sanjay Krishnamurthi.

No 3 Tilak Varma announced his arrival with a six and two fours off Saurabh Netravalkar.

At 45-1, Ishan Kishan slapped Van Schalkwyk to Milind Kumar at mid-off on 20 to spark a mini collapse.

It was soon 46-3 as captain Tilak also fell to the 37-year-old, splicing an attempted pull to USA captain Patel at midwicket.

Next ball Shivam Dube also fell to leave Van Schalkwyk on a hat-trick, which was successfully staved off by Suryakumar.

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They crept to 63-4 at the halfway stage which soon became 72-5 and 77-6 when Rinku Singh was caught in the deep and Hardik Pandya perished in similar fashion.

Suryakumar exploded in the 16th over, hitting three fours and a six off seamer Saurabh Netravalkar.

He reached his fifty off 36 balls with a trademark wristy sweep for four.

The final over saw Suryakumar smash 21 runs off Netravalkar including two sixes.