Ashwin totally outplayed the Proteas as he bagged his second five-fer of the match and seven wickets in total in the second innings, claiming 12 wickets in the game.
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In the end, the Nagpur Test finished as another three-day affair, with another five-for from R Ashwin taking India to 124-runs win and in the process end a 10-year wait to beat South Africa in a Test series.
India’s second win was similar in terms of the number of days consumed in a Test match.
This is South Africa’ first away series defeat in 15 tours.
Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of JP Duminy during day three of the 3rd Paytm Freedom Trophy Series Test Match between India and South Africa at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Friday.
The final Test takes place in Delhi next Thursday, December 3. I suppose one kind of consolation would be that the conditions we’ve had to play in were probably nothing like we’ve had when we’ve played away from home, and that is a type of challenge we’ve never experienced before. Whether we win or loss, we have to fight honourably and well done to guys.
Kohli added: “Ashwin is a world-class spinner, the best in the world right now. A batsman goes out to make a 100 and a bowler goes out to get a fifer, that’s how I do it”, Ashwin said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The tourists – bowled out for a record low of 79 in their first innings – were set a target of 310 runs after dismissing the home side for 173 second time around.
“When I first started, South Africa as a team nearly looked very similar to what it is at the moment”, he said.
In a test match that saw 32 wickets tumble on the first two days, the pair showed grit and determination to thwart the Indian bowlers for more than 46 overs with the biggest partnership in the low-scoring contest. Second day’s morning session was manic.
“If you’re winning the series, it is easy to criticise the pitch, but when you’re behind in the series, it is hard to do so”.
“Mishra showed great character in that tough phase to get Hashim [Amla] and [Faf] Du Plessis out in successive overs, that was a turning point for us”.
“The wicket slowed up a bit today, there was help in the wicket but the way Faf (Du Plessis) and (Hashim) Amla played, we had to put some good balls”.
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Plessis, however, has taken just 66 balls to get his 23 with two fours and a six as he stitched an unbeaten 47 runs stand for the fifth wicket with his skipper.
