Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Johannesburg: Superb seam bowling allowed India to rip through South Africa’s batting line-up and seal a 63-run consolation victory on day four of the third and final Test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
Chasing 241 for victory on a wicket with pace, bounce and prodigious lateral movement, South Africa were on top at 124 for one, but lost their last nine wickets for just 53 runs as India roared back into the contest.
Dean Elgar (86 not out) and Hashim Amla (52) had given South Africa hope with a 119-run second wicket stand.
However, South Africa lost their way following Amla's dismissal 20 minutes before tea, with four batsmen out for ducks.
The wickets were shared between the excellent Mohammed Shami (five for 28), Ishant Sharma (two for 31), Jasprit Bumrah (two for 57) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (one for 39).
South Africa claim the series 2-1 after victories in Cape Town and Pretoria.
The Test victory will be especially pleasing for India after it was achieved on a treacherous Wanderers wicket.
“We required some character playing on a pitch that was very difficult to play on, but our guys showed great guts and determination through the four days,” India captain Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
“We took the challenge, we wanted to face it head on. Batting first was something that didn’t go down well with a lot of people, but we knew it would get even more difficult to bat as the game went on.”
The batsmen in particular showed bravery and skill on a surface that at once stage was deemed so dangerous by umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar that they suspended play 20 minutes from the close on day three.
Resuming on 17 for one, South Africa played patiently through the rain-shorted morning session, but Amla’s dismissal sparked a swing in momentum.
The key wickets of AB de Villiers (6) and Faf du Plessis (2) followed quickly afterwards, and when the out of form Quinton de Kock was trapped leg before wicket first ball, the home side’s chances diminished.
At one stage India’s rampant seamers picked up six wickets for 17 runs, with only the lone hand of Elgar able to keep them at bay.
“India outplayed us in this test, we didn’t take our chances and were sloppy. We weren’t as consistent as in the first two tests,” South African captain Faf du Plessis said.
“It’s very disappointing standing here after a loss, but if you had offered me 2-1 before this series I would have bitten your hand off. India is a fantastic team, but we have played some really good cricket in this series.”
The teams will now play six One-Day Internationals starting on February 1, followed by three Twenty20 Internationals.
Scoreboard
India 1st innings: 187 in 76.4 overs
(V. Kohli 54, C. Pujara 50; B. Kumar, K. Rabada 3/39, M. Morkel 2/47, V. Philander 2/31)
South Africa 1st innings: 194 in 65.5 overs
(H. Amla 61, V. Philander 35, K. Rabada 30; J. Bumrah 5/54, B. Kumar 3/44)
India 2nd innings: 247 in 80.1 overs
(A. Rahane 48, V. Kohli 41, B. Kumar 33, M. Shami 27, M. Vijay 25; V. Philander 3/61, K. Rabada 3/69, M. Morkel 3/47)
South Africa 2nd innings
A. Markram c P. Patel b M. Shami 4
Dean Elgar (not out) 86
H. Amla c H. Pandya b I. Sharma 52
AB de Villiers c A. Rahane b J. Bumrah 6
F. du Plessis b I. Sharma 2
Q. de Kock lbw J. Bumrah 0
V. Philander b M. Shami 10
A. Phehlukwayo b M. Shami 0
K. Rabada c C. Pujara b B. Kumar 0
M. Morkel b M. Shami 0
L. Ngidi c sub b M. Shami 4
Extras (b-7, w-6) 13
Total (all out, 73.3 overs) 177
Fall of wickets : 1-5, 2-124, 3-131, 4-144, 5-145, 6-157, 7-157, 8-160, 9-161.
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 18-4-39-1; Mohammed Shami 12.3-2-28-5; Jasprit Bumrah 21-3-57-2; Ishant Sharma 16-3-31-2; Hardik Pandya 6-1-15-0.
Umpires: Ian Gould, Aleem Dar
Video umpire: Michael Gough
Match referee: Andrew Pycroft
