Chasing an unlikely 310 to level the series, the Proteas were bowled out for 185 on day three with spin kings Ashwin and Mishra sharing the 10 wickets between them as India moved 2-0 in front.
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Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 7-66 to go with his five wickets in the first innings, while legspinner Amit Mishra claimed the other three second-innings wickets. The fourth Test starts on December 3.
The fairytale wasn’t to be, though, as Amla (39 off 167 balls, 2×4) received a terrific delivery from leg-spinner Mishra.
South Africa captain Hashim Amla called the Nagpur pitch “probably the toughest” he has played on after his team lost the third test and series to India on Friday.
The winning sequence was broken only by the drawn rain-hit Bangalore Test.
This was South Africa’s first series defeat on foreign soil in nine years, a period which included 15 trips away from home. I don’t think many guys would say that Virat (Kohli) and Murali Vijay are not good players of spin.
On the disappointment of losing series: Very disappointing.
Statistical highlights on day three of the third Test between India and South Africa. Ashwin completed the formalities by claiming the last four wickets to bring the partisan home crowd on to its feet.
“To be quite honest, we could’ve been bowled out for 100, there were a lot of plays and misses – chances that could’ve gone to hand in the second innings”.
“But whether you win or lose, as a South African team the way we fought today, you want to lose honourably and you want to win honourably”.
Tahir’s fourth wicket came in weird circumstances as Wriddhimman Saha was caught by Amla attempting to sweep after the ball ricocheted off Dane Vilas’ boot. “It was a hard game, but we are obviously very disappointed”. We tried our best and the idea is, when you win or lose, you try to do that as honourably as possible. Against South Africa, India have won one and lost one out of two played at this venue.
On a deteriorating pitch the pair stood firm until falling to leg-spinner Amit Mishra in quick succession before tea.
The ball jumped off the pitch on a full length, and caught the edge of the bat to loop to Indian captain Virat Kohli at gully.
Amla, who had a great record in earlier visits to the country, made the joint highest score of their second innings, 39, along with another out-of-form batsman Faf du Plessis.
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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.
