Ashwin’s off-spin took seven for 66 in the second innings, and 12 for 98 in the match, to once again lead the charge against a batting lineup that folded for a meagre 79 in the first innings.
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India, which had taken a 136-run first innings lead and then scored 173 in its second innings, won the first test at Mohali by 108 runs and settled for a draw in the rain-marred second test at Bangalore. The fourth and final Test will be played in New Delhi from December 3.
South African captain Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis defied India s spinners to delay the hosts march towards a series-winning victory in the third Test in Nagpur on Friday.
Amla negotiated 167 deliveries and du Plessis faced 152 balls, both making identical scores of 39 before being dismissed by leg-spinner Amit Mishra in the space of six deliveries before tea.
“It’s very pleasing indeed, especially after South Africa own the T20 and the one-day series here”, Virat Kohli said after sealing his first home test series victory as India captain.
South Africa lost a series away from home for the first time in nine years. The last time an Indian bowler had taken 50 or more Test wickets in a year was in 2008 when off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took 53. “We have sealed the series and we are happy about it”, Kohli was point blank in his response. “Sealing the series in Nagpur feels very good”.
South Africa were 12 for five and while the best partnership of the innings followed – 23 runs between Duminy and Faf du Plessis – the respite was hardly long-lasting as South Africa were dismissed in just 33.1 overs. But nothing bothered “Sunny bhai” that day as in his last Test innings he fell short of a 100 by only four runs and India lost the game to Pakistan. They battled it out playing with soft hands and doing the correct shot selection.
“The surface was probably the toughest that I have had and the cricket itself was really hard”, Amla said.
The anti-thesis of this tactic was Hashim Amla. “He has been one of the main reasons why we are able to win back-to-back series…It’s a pleasure to have someone like Ashwin in the side”, Kohli said. “We have tried to improve our game, it is always a matter of us not having the technique or us not having the mental strength to cope with conditions away from home”.
The match may have ended much earlier had Wriddhiman Saha and Ajinkya Rahane been a little more smart when du Plessis, beaten by pace, edged Sharma (79 for four) between the keeper and slip and Amla (83 for four) failed to keep down Mishra.
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Although the batsmen put in a more concerted effort in the second innings following on from the paltry first innings contribution, Amla admits the difference between the two teams has been the success of the Indian spinners, who were nearly unplayable in favourable conditions.
