India v South Africa 4th Test, Day 5 Review: India breaks South Africa’s resistance to take the series 3-0

Indian bowlers put in a determined effort giving the team regular breakthroughs which endured a series win by 3-0 for the home team. The South African batsmen put up a fight and didn’t give up until the end. AB de Villiers in the company of other batsmen continued to defy with an innings of unshakable defence however two crucial wickets between lunch and tea opened up the match for India.

Ravindra Jadeja produced the wicket-taking ball in his 3rd over, drawing Amla forward with flight, and getting the ball to drift into him and spin away sharply that went past his bat and clipped the off-stump. Amla’s front-foot stride was short and insufficient to get close to the pitch of the ball which cost him dearly. Starting their fourth innings shortly before lunch on day four, he and de Villiers had batted 138 overs scoring less than a run an over. AB de Villiers batted a further 35.1 overs with Faf du Plessis before Jadeja weaved his magic again.

Mixing the pace and length of the deliveries, Jadeja kept Faf guessing and ultimately proved too good for the South African. He pushed forward tentatively in defence however the ball did not turn, slid on with the arm and hit him plumb in front of middle. The umpire didn’t have any hesitation in giving the batsman out LBW although he did check with the third umpire about the no ball. Replays confirmed that Jadeja’s foot had landed legitimately.

Watch: Ravindra Jadeja removes Faf du Plessis with a superb delivery

A number of deliveries misbehaved in one way or another over the course of the day, but de Villiers played as late as possible and never went hard at the ball. He got hit on the fingers thrice, however, was determined to continue his innings by fighting it out. The one bowler who consistently worried him was Umesh Yadav who got the ball to rear at AB de Villiers and knocked his bat out of his hands smacking the gloves.

JP Duminy was the new man in and his footwork was jittery while he faced Ashwin. He shuffled all the way across his stumps twice in a row to balls bowled from around the wicket. While the first one went past the leg side while the second one straightened just enough to hit his front pad as he looked to play around it. Umpire Bruce Oxenford took time before raising his finger and the Indian’s were overjoyed. Dane Villas played out 45 balls before Tea and looked solid at the crease.

India needed a big effort after Tea with light fading and chances of completing the overs looking grim. Umesh Yadav gave the team a perfect first over after the break, dismissing Villas who played on looking to defend an off-cutter. In the next over Ashwin got the prized scalp of AB de Villiers that started the celebrations as India sniffed a quick finish. Yadav went past Kyle Abbott’s defence with a cracking reverse swinging yorker that broke the leg-stump. He got Dane Piedt to nick one behind which was magnificently caught by Saha with a flying effort to his right. Ashwin cleaned up Morne Morkel and wrapped up the series 3-0 for India. The marvellous trophy with images of the two great leaders, one of the better-looking trophies ever seen in cricket, was awarded to Virat Kohli who was very happy with his teams’ effort on the final day.

Brief Scores:

India 1st innings– 334/10 in 117.5 overs (A Rahane 127; K Abbott  5/40).

South Africa 1st innings– 121/10 in 49.3 overs (AB de Villiers 42; R Jadeja 5/30)

India 2nd innings–267-5d in 100.1 overs (A Rahane 100*; M Morkel 3/51)

South Africa 2nd innings–Target 481– 143/10 in 142.10 overs (AB de Villiers 43; R Ashwin 5/61)

Player of the match – A Rahane (India)

Player of the series – R Ashwin (India)

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