New Delhi, Dec 7: India ended South Africa’s second innings at 143 runs to win the fourth and final cricket Test by 337 runs and clinch the series 3-0 at the Ferozeshah Kotla here Monday.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (5/61) was the most successful among the Indian bowlers in the second innings. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav (3/9) bagged three quick wickets just after tea. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/26) also complemented them well.
A B de Villiers was the highest scorer for the visitors with 43. De Villiers consumed 296 deliveries during his marathon innings. Usually known and revered for his ability to repeatedly hit bowlers out of the park in limited-overs cricket, the 31-year-old showed he is one of best when it comes to defensive batting as well.
Although Hashim Amla, Du Plessis and J PDuminy fell at the other end, the experienced right-hander continued to hold back the Indian bowlers at the other end. His lengthy partnerships with Amla and du Plessis gave the Proteas genuine hopes of snatching a draw before they suffered a dramatic collapse shortly after the tea break.
Resuming at the overnight score of 72/2, South Africa batsmen de Villiers and Amla continued their efforts to deny a victory to the hosts. Jadeja knocked back Amla’s off-stump in the morning session before du Plesis joined de Villiers in the middle and the duo ensured that the visitors did not lose any more wickets till lunch.
The Kotla pitch became slow as the Test match progressed and lost most of its bounce which allowed the visitors more time to read the deliveries and play their shots. The Proteas hopes of avoiding defeat vaporised right at the start of the final session when they lost their last five wickets in the space of seven runs. IANS
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