India vs South Africa, Highlights, Day 5 Kotla Test: Ravichandran Ashwin Picks up 5/61, Hosts Thrash Proteas by 337 Runs to Win Series 3-0
Ravichandran Ashwin's 16th five-wicket haul and Umesh Yadav ended South Africa's brave resistance after tea as they ran through the lower order to seal a historic 3-0 series victory. Relive all the moments here.
AB de Villiers stood in the way of India's victory march heading into the final session. However, Dane Vilas departed immediately and Ravichandran Ashwin dealt the killer blow when he ended de Villiers' epic vigil. Ashwin picked up his 16th five wicket haul and his 31st in the series as India wrapped up the match by 337 runs and registered a 3-0 series victory over South Africa, which is their biggest ever. Relive all the historic moments here (SCORECARD | NEWS | VIDEOS):
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15:34 hrs IST: Ravichandran Ashwin is the Man of the series for his 31 wickets, Ajinkya Rahane is the Man of the Match for his twin centuries. Smiles all around as India seal a 3-0 win to end South Africa's nine-year overseas dominance.
15:04 hrs IST: Ashwin bowls Morne Morkel with a straight delivery and India have sealed a magnificent 337-run victory. This also seals a 3-0 series win which is their biggest ever in Tests for India against the Proteas. Thanks to the win, India have jumped to number two in the ICC Test rankings. Virat Kohli and his team are indeed on top of the world.
14:55 hrs IST: WICKET! What a catch by Saha. Piedt looks to leave a delivery that swings away and climbs up slightly, the ball takes the edge and Saha dives to his right to take a great catch. India one wicket away from a historic series win.
14:50 hrs IST: When de Villiers was dismissed, he was bitterly disappointed and he had to drag himself off the field. Abbott walked ahead and patted him on the back. He has been head and shoulders the best batsman in the team.
14:45 hrs IST: WICKET! Umesh Yadav has pounded that leg stump into oblivion. The perfect reverse swinging yorker and Abbott has no clue. South Africa falling like a pack of cards here.
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14:36 hrs IST: WICKETS! That is probably it for South Africa. Two wickets in two overs and India are on the cusp of a 3-0 series win. Vilas drags an inswinging delivery from Umesh back on to the stumps but Ashwin seals the nail in the coffin for South Africa as he gets de Villiers with a delivery that bounces up big and catches him on the glove.
14:30 hrs IST: With the light fading, India might employ only spinners in the final session. Remember, play can be called off one hour early if South Africa do not lose any more wickets and India feel that they cannot take the remaining wickets in time.
14:28 hrs IST: Welcome back for the final session of South Africa's tour to India. De Villiers stands in the way of India's victory. A draw or an India win will ensure India move to number two in the ICC Test rankings and Australia slip down to number three.
14:10 hrs IST: That will be tea. De Villiers stands in the way of India's victory. Can they continue to fight it out in the final session? The light is also fading.
14:02 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav is getting some outswing and a fair bit of reverse swing. It is needing every bit of de Villiers' technique to keep him out.
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13:53 hrs IST: With a four off Jadeja, Vilas has taken South Africa's run-rate past one for the first time on day five. However, the challenge remains enormous.
13:48 hrs IST: Play has resumed and de Villiers continues to bat. However, he will be having a really sore hand after the end of this match. South Africa will be hoping it is nothing serious.
13:42 hrs IST: Once again, Umesh Yadav gets a delivery to climb up from a good length outside off and it hits de Villiers on the fingers. He is having a look at it and the physio is once again out there. Not good.
13:33 hrs IST: South Africa have gone past their first innings and it has taken them 130 overs to get there. However, all depends on De Villiers and how long he holds on.
13:24 hrs IST: Dane Vilas is having a torrid time out in the middle against Ashwin. The bowler lands one full delivery in the rough and it spins back in sharply, it also spits up like a Cobra from the deck and it hits Vilas on the hips.
13:15 hrs IST: WICKET! Ashwin gets the breakthrough now and India are closing on a win. He slides this delivery in and JP Duminy hangs back to work it to the leg side but misses it and is trapped plumb. That ball would have hit leg stump. At the other end, de Villiers watches helplessly. India five wickets away from a 3-0 series win.
13:09 hrs IST: Drinks at the Kotla and India have a slight glimmer of hope. However, the rest of the South African batting, under these circumstances are no pushovers.
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12:58 hrs IST: WICKET! Jadeja once again delivers the breakthrough. He traps Faf du Plessis LBW for 10 with an arm ball that just slides in and the batsman plays down the wrong line. South Africa 111/4, needing another 370 more for an improbable win. However, India's hopes have been raised with this wicket.
12:52 hrs IST: After 97 balls, we have seen something unique and that is Jadeja conceding runs. He gets hit for a boundary straight down the ground and that has spoiled his sequence of 17 consecutive maidens.
12:46 hrs IST: Jadeja is into the attack now and he bowls his 29th maiden over. It is his 17th consecutive one today. He is on course for a record but still some way to go.
12:37 hrs IST: The pace bowlers are changing the angles, the spinners are employing variations. However, nothing is able to breach the defences of de Villiers and du Plessis.
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12:28 hrs IST: During the epic Test in Adelaide, de Villiers occupied the crease for 220 balls on his way to a dour 33. In the next match, he tore Australia apart in Perth with 169 at a strike rate close to 80. This is a precursor for England, who arrive for a four-Test tour in December.
12:20 hrs IST: South Africa bring up the 100 in the 109th over. This is a monumental feat and this blockathon has ensured that South Africa exit Indian shores with honor. Can they continue?
12:15 hrs IST: Ishant Sharma has started off proceedings after lunch. The blockathon continues. De Villiers' strike-rate is just 12. Remember, he holds the record for fastest 100 and 150 in ODIs. He gets going with an outside edge that rolls to third man for a boundary.
12:09 hrs IST: Welcome back for the second session. South Africa will look to continue their defiance. AB de Villiers and du Plessis will look to bat in the same way like they did it in the first session.
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11:36 hrs IST: It is lunch at the Feroz Shah Kotla and South Africa have survived admirably. Amla and De Villiers survived for the first hour but with Amla's dismissal, du Plessis has continued the vigil. India face a hard task as they look to take the remaining wickets.
11:30 hrs IST: Oh dear! Another one has reared up sharply from the pitch! De Villiers has again been hit on the fingers. Are we seeing the Kotla up to its old tricks where there was dangerous bounce?
11:26 hrs IST: OUCH! De Villiers gets hit on the fingers with a nasty delivery that spits up from a good length. He immediately drops the bat and he is getting some medical attention.
11:16 hrs IST: Du Plessis brings his fifty up! Number of deliveries that is! He is the master of defiance. Just ask the Australians who were at the receiving end of his stoic defence during the Adelaide Test of 2012.
11:12 hrs IST: Pace is in after a long time. Umesh Yadav is into the attack. There is absolutely no assistance from the deck now and both batsmen might play him with ease.
11:10 hrs IST: Like Amla, du Plessis has still not gotten off the mark after 46 balls. Jadeja has bowled 11 consecutive overs so far.
11:03 hrs IST: De Villiers dispatches a rare full toss from Ashwin to the boundary. South Africa have played out 100 overs but they have still not reached 100. Du Plessis is yet to get off the mark after facing 46 deliveries while de Villiers has gobbled up over 180 deliveries for his 25.
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10:53 hrs IST: There was a prolonged appeal from India and Jadeja for an edge against du Plessis. Umpire Oxenford is unmoved. Replays show the bat was far away from the ball. Good decision. The umpire will be under immense pressure today.
10:45 hrs IST: Jadeja has bowled 22 maidens in this innings so far. Looking at the way how South Africa are proceeding, he and Ashwin might break some records. However, still some time to go in this match.
10:36 hrs IST: Ashwin and Jadeja are building up the pressure. De Villiers is calmly continuing to block while Du Plessis seems to be nervous. How much more will South Africa hold on against some relentless pressure bowling?
10:27 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis, who is on a pair, is under immense pressure from Jadeja. He almost plays down the wrong line, has a dodgy leave and gets an edge that lands just in front of Rahane at slip. Jadeja is creating opportunities and he can sense another wicket.
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10:18 hrs IST: Brilliant from Jaddu! What a ball to breach Fortress Amla. He is celebrating like India have won the match. Hashim Amla b Jadeja 25 (240).
What a ball. Flatter delivery and it drfits in, it straightens at the last moment and Amla looks to get behind the line, he misses and the ball pegs off stump back. Jadeja is on a celebratory run and the Indian team mob him. Amla's epic vigil has ended, but it has been a very poor tour for him. South Africa 76/3.
10:13 hrs IST: Slip, silly point, leg slip, short leg and an unconventional silly mid-on in place as Ashwin starts another over. This is an exhibition of blocking. Last 10 overs, only four overs.
10:08 hrs IST: India have taken the second new ball. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have started off with it. The pitch has just died out and the batsmen are getting plenty of time to go back and defend.
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10:02 hrs IST: Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are coming onto bowl. This is the last over before the second new ball. Maybe, Kohli is trying to break the partnership by enticing a false stroke from one of the batsmen.
09:57 hrs IST: Five overs have been bowled since Umesh Yadav conceded two runs and the status quo has resumed. No runs have been scored. The defiance continues.
09:51 hrs IST: The most number of overs faced by South Africa in a Test match is 148 against Australia in Adelaide in 2012. If both Amla and de Villiers stay there till the end, that record could be shattered
09:43 hrs IST: AB de Villiers and Amla have batted for over 30 overs now. However, the runs scored is just 25. South Africa know the art of defiance.
09:35 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav begins proceedings and already two runs have been scored! That was a rarity yesterday. The bowler lost his line slightly and that allowed the batsmen to capitalise. Ishant Sharma to begin proceedings from the other end.
09:28 hrs IST: The South African batsmen are out in the middle and the Indian fielders are in the huddle. AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla will have to summon up the spirit of Adelaide and Colombo to push for a honourable draw.
09:20 hrs IST: In an era of Slam, Bang, Thank you Ma'am cricket, it was a surprise to see AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla engage in a blockathon of epic proportions. South Africa managed only 72 runs in 72 overs and more will be expected today as well.
09:15 hrs IST: A warm welcome to one and all for the final day of the fourth Test between India and South Africa from the Feroz Shah Kotla. After 71 days in India, the Proteas are hanging in there as they look to exit Indian shores with some honour intact. A draw at the Kotla will go a long way in bringing their confidence back.
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Ajinkya Rahane stamped his class on day four as he became the fifth Indian player to score a century in both innings of a Test. India declared at 267/5 and armed with a 480-run lead, they moved in for the kill. However, they were thwarted by de Villiers and Amla, who occupied time in the middle to take the match into the fifth day.
Only 72 runs were scored by South Africa in 72 overs on day four. The batsmen were content on solid defence as the mode of survival. The mode of operation will be similar on day five. Amla and de Villiers played Jadeja and Ashwin with ease on a pitch which eased out as the day progressed. The visitors know how to save matches when their backs are against the wall. They did it in Adelaide 2012 against Australia and in 2014 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. They will be hoping for a repeat at the Kotla this time.
For Virat Kohli and the bowlers, the final day will be a battle of patience. Ashwin and Jadeja will have to keep plugging away at the right areas if they are to breakthrough. With South Africa employing a blocking tactic, India's task to take the remaining wickets is cut out.
After 71 days, South Africa's long sojourn in India comes to an end on Monday. Amla and de Villiers will be hoping to ensure the Proteas leave India with their heads held high. For India, they will be aiming to inflict one final humiliation and register their biggest series victory over the Proteas.