Amla, Du Plessis fight for SA

Ravichandran Ashwin led SA’s rout on a spinners’ paradise as India romped to a 124-run victory with more than two days to spare in the third Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series on Friday.

With India winning at Mohali and Nagpur and the game in Bengaluru being washed out, the teams will play the inconsequential final Test at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla from December 3.

The defeat was top-ranked South Africa’s first series loss overseas since a 2-0 setback in Sri Lanka in 2006.

No hundreds and only four fifties from two finished Tests begs the question if this series really is being played in run-friendly India. “We could have got India out for 140 and that probably would have changed the complexion of the game”, he said.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were among the wickets on Thursday as India pressed for victory in the third test after dismissing South Africa for a meagre 79.

Indian leggie Amit Mishra claimed three wickets including FaF Du Plessis and skipper Hashim Amla who made the Indian bowlers to fight hard for their win.

Virat Kohli said after the match, “it is very pleasing after the fact they won the T20 and ODI series”.

The debate about the hard nature of the pitch has raged on throughout the match after another three-day finish, but skipper Kohli refused to be roped in.

“I don’t feel that way, we have never complained when we had challenging conditions and won’t complain in the future either”.

“He stepped up in a big way for us, he’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to win back-to-back series, he’s a consistent performer and it’s a pleasure to have someone like Ashwin in the side”.

At the tea break, JP Duminy (15 batting) and wicketkeeper Dane Vilas (2 batting) were at the crease, still needing 159 runs for a series-levelling win.

Amla and du Plessis, who came together in the morning session after the fall of the fourth wicket at 58, defended for 46.2 overs. “We tried to dig deep for as long as we could”, said Amla, who has failed to live up to expectations so far in the series. “Amit Mishra showed great character in that period”.

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.

Mishra got rid of Amla to end the partnership and also packed off du Plessis soon afterwards before Ashwin polished off the tail with the second new ball in a devastating spell.

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.