India wasted no time as they took the last two South African wickets in just the second over of the fourth day to take home the final Test of the three-match series by an innings and 202 runs. With that, the Indian team also clinched their first-ever whitewash against the Proteas and the 11th straight series-win at home.
Shahbaz Nadeem completed the formalities for India as he sent home Theunis de Bruyn, who had come in as a concussion substitute for Dean Elgar, and Lungi Ngidi off consecutive deliveries. India bowled their opponent out for 133 runs after they resumed batting at an overnight score of 132. The debutant spinner returned with the figure of 2/18 in his six overs.
11th straight series win at home for #TeamIndia 🙌🙌
Upwards & onwards from here on 🇮🇳🇮🇳😎👌 @Paytm #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/kPHAiiDdo0— BCCI (@BCCI) October 22, 2019
Mohammed Shami (3/10) and Umesh Yadav (2/35), on day 3, rattled through the top order of the visitors to reduce them to 36/5. The Faf du Plessis-led side could not revive their fate against a top-notch Indian bowling attack and ended one of their most disastrous tours in recent times.
Earlier, the tourists were bundled out for 162 in their first innings after they came out to bat in response for India’s 497/9. Yadav (3/40) and Shami 2/22) were again the stars of the pack as the pace duo shared five scalps among them. Nadeem (2/22) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/19) had also contributed with two wickets each.
Batting first, the hosts were off to a shaky start after being reduced to 39/3 courtesy of a Kagiso Rabada brilliance in the first spell. However, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane held the fort for their team and made sure they suffered no more casualties. The duo went on to add 267 runs for the fourth wicket as Sharma (212) notched up his maiden double-hundred and Rahane completed his 11th Test century.
South Africa had earlier lost the Pune and Visakhapatnam Test by 203 runs and by an innings and 137 runs respectively. With three-straight victories, India added another 120 points to take their kitty to a total of 240 in the World Test Championship. After winning all the five matches they have played so far in the Championship, the Virat Kohli-led side are enjoying a comfortable stay at the top.