India beat South Africa in Nagpur by 124 runs

Chasing a formidable victory target of 310 to stay alive in the series, the visitors had slumped to 58 for four, losing two second innings wickets this morning, before they fought back.

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.

The winning sequence was broken by the rain-hit second Test against South Africa in Bangalore, where the last four days were washed out. Interestingly, for the first time since 2006, South Africa lost two Tests in an away series.

The cushion of a 136-run first-innings lead gave the home side a lot of leeway since the highest team total in this low-scoring series, being played on spin-friendly pitches, was 215, scored by India in the first innings in Nagpur. The fourth Test starts on December 3.

India’s spinners claimed all 20 South Africa wickets on a pitch that was dry, abrasive and turned from the very first day.

Amla was given a reprieve when Wriddhiman Saha failed to hold on a very tough chance off Amit Mishra (3-51). Despite the pitch playing a number of tricks and a number of fielders surrounding the bat, the pair countered the spinners, defending resolutely with soft hands. “The condition we have played in was never like I had played travelling away from home. I don’t know where we find a balance”, Kohli said with a hint of sarcasm. “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. “It was turning and bouncing whether it was the new ball or the old one”, said Amla.

Giving a hint to future prospects, especially considering the batting worries, Kohli elaborated that the current team is in a learning phase and will continue to work to find the best combination. Both of them added 72 runs in around 48 overs before Mishra bagged their wickets in two of his successive overs.

Du Plessis, who showed admirable patience till his skipper s departure, lost it five balls later when he played an ill-advised pull shot to a ball that kept low from Mishra and clean bowled him.

Unlike de Villiers, Amla and du Plessis trusted their defence even though they hadn’t been among the runs recently.

Amla’s poor run in the series continued when he gloved an intended sweep off Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane in the slips after the ball bounced off the wicket-keeper.