India clinch series, end Proteas' away streak

A carefully built streak of nine years by South Africa was cruelly cut short in less than seven days of Test cricket.

Since their victory over Sri Lanka in 2006, the Proteas were undefeated in 15 away series.

The proud record by the World’s No 1 side came to an end when India coasted to a 124-win on the third day of the third and penultimate Test here at the VCA Stadium on Friday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

As has been the theme of the series, Indian spinners dictated the course of the game with R Ashwin (7/66) claiming his third five-wicket haul of the series. Combined with his figures of 5/32 in the first innings, the off-spinner returned a rich haul of 12/98 for the match that earned him the man of the match honours.

While Ravindra Jadeja went wicketless in his 25 overs, leg-spinner Amit Mishra picked up three scalps at crucial junctures.

Resuming at their overnight score of 32/2 in pursuit of India’s target of 310 on a crumbling surface, South Africa were not expected to put up a big  fight, forget pulling off an improbable upset. Skipper Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis engineered South Africa’s most defiant resistance of the series yet, but the magnitude of the task meant that they were always fighting a losing battle.

After battling it out for 281 balls spread over almost three hours, the longest partnership South Africa have managed in this series so far, Amla and du Plessis perished to Mishra in successive overs.

Ashwin later completed the carnage in a spell of 4.5-1-16-4, finishing the proceedings 52 minutes into the post-tea session.