India v/s South Africa 4th Test: India overcome Proteas' resistance to win series 3-0

Indian bowlers led by Ravichandran Ashwin showed outstanding perseverance to end South Africa's dogged resistance and register a comprehensive 337 run victory in the final cricket Test, winning the four-match series by a historic 3-0 margin.

Needing a mammoth 481 to win, South Africa depended on their ultra-defensive strategy before being bowled out for 143 in 143.1 overs, the last five wickets falling for a mere seven runs in a dramatic collapse.
The 3-0 series win also enabled India to climb upto No 2 in the ICC Test rankings.

Fittingly Ashwin (5/61 in 49.1 overs) got the final wicket with an angular delivery that Morne Morkel left and was bowled, triggering scenes of celebration in the Indian dressing room and among the players on the ground.

Related Read: India v/s South Africa 4th Test Day 5 Match Commentary: India break SA resistance to win by 337 runs

Skipper Virat Kohli and Man of the Match Ajinkya Rahane picked the souvenir stumps as players engaged in hearty celebrations and also thanked the spectators who gave them a standing ovation.

The Proteas, courtesy AB de Villiers' 43 off 297 balls, looked like pulling off an improbable draw from the jaws of defeat before the Indian bowling came to life in the final session courtesy pacer Umesh Yadav's fiery spell and Ravichandran Ashwin ending the stodgy De Villiers' near six- hour battle. Ashwin produced a magical delivery a sharp bouncing off-break that de Villiers played awkwardly and the resultant catch was taken by Jadeja at leg-slip.

Credit should also be given to Umesh Yadav (3/9 in 21 overs) for starting the slide in the final session by rattling Dane Vilas and Kyle Abbott's stumps. Dane Piedt was gone when Wriddhiman Saha took a stunner.

The visions of victory were raised in the post-lunch session, Faf Du Plessis' (10, 97 balls) resistance ended when Ravindra Jadeja bowled an armer which the right-hander intended to play for the turn. It hit plumb in-front much to the delight of Jadeja.

India's most successful bowler in the series, Ravichandran Ashwin got his 30th victim when JP Duminy (0) was caught plumb on the backfoot having played a dozen of deliveries. Having got a couple of wickets, the drooping shoulders of the Indian fielders suddenly had some life in them.

The Proteas, who continued with their 'Blockathon' added only 21 runs in the first session of the final day consuming another 35 overs while the post lunch session produced 42 runs in 31 overs. With a session left, it looked as if South Africa were inching towards one of their most creditable draws in Test history. However, the Indian bowlers ensured that the hosts wrapped up the series in style.

While the pitch made it easier for the South Africans but no credit can be snatched away from currently the world's best batsman, De Villiers, who showed that a class player can change and adapt his game according to adverse situations.

De Villiers was in that zone where he did have only one thing in mind. Defend dourly and destroy the opposition's confidence. It was not destructive batting for which he is so revered but slow disintegration of a team that has been on top on 10 out of the 12 days of Test cricket that has happened during the series.

There were times when the odd boundary was hit and the players carried out the formality of picking the ball from the boundary and throwing it back to the bowler. 

In the morning session, Jadeja ended Hashim Amla's dogged vigil with a beautiful delivery but de Villiers frustrated the Indian bowlers no end.

Scoreboard on the fifth day of the fourth and final cricket Test between India and South Africa:

India 1st innings: 334

South Africa 1st innings: 121

India 2nd innings: 267-5 decl

South Africa 2nd innings (overnight 72-2):

Dean Elgar c Rahane b Ashwin 4
Temba Bavuma b Ashwin 34
Hashim Amla b Jadeja 25
AB de Villiers c Jadeja b Ashwin 43
Faf du Plessis lbw b Jadeja 10
JP Duminy lbw b Ashwin 0
Dane Vilas b Yadav 13
Kyle Abbott b Yadav 0
Dane Piedt c Saha b Yadav 1
Morne Morkel b Ashwin 2
Imran Tahir not out 0

Extras: (B-8 LB-3) 11 Total: (All out in 143.1 overs) 143

Fall of wickets: 1/5 2/49 3/76 4/111 5/112 6/136 7/136 8/140 9/143

Bowling: Ishant Sharma 20-12-23-0, R Ashwin 49.1-26-61-5, Ravindra Jadeja 46-33-26-2, Umesh Yadav 21-16-9-3, Shikhar Dhawan 3-1-9-0, Murali Vijay 2-0-2-0, Virat Kohli 1-1-0-0, Cheteshwar Pujara 1-0-2-0.
PTI