On the fourth day of the Second Test, India needed only five overs after the tea break to wrap up the Test series against South Africa 2-0 in their favor. They took an unassailable lead after they breached the partnership that frustrated them yet again.
With this victory, they created a new world record to win their 11th successive series at home, overtaking Australia’s record of 10 at two different junctures.
The victory was a foregone conclusion after India asked the visiting team to follow on with a lead of 326 runs. Proteas’ hopes of putting up a stiff resistance were soon dashed when Aiden Markram was caught plumb in front of the wickets off only the second ball of the fourth day. Soon, Theunis de Bruyn also followed after nicking Umesh Yadav down the leg side.
Skipper Faf du Plessis came in to bat before Temba Bavuma, hoping to put up a tough fight along with Dean Elgar. They seemed to do just that before Ravichandran Ashwin got them both out. du Plessis was caught by Wriddhiman Saha after he edged the off-spinner. Saha, however, took the catch, only after juggling it several times. On the other hand, Elgar mistimed a ball only to be caught by Umesh as he took it on the run.
Jadeja dismissed Quinton de Kock who tried to slog sweep. Although Bavuma looked good, he also perished after edging a ball to Ajinkya Rahane at first slip. Senuran Muthusamy was undone by a Mohammed Shami bouncer. It again brought Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj to the crease.
The duo, who batted out 259 deliveries in the first innings, played out 97 balls before Tea. But after the break, Umesh got Philander to tickle to Saha. In the same over, Kagiso Rabada too got out after he edged one to Rohit Sharma in the slip cordon. The match got over with Jadeja trapping Maharaj leg-before-wicket.
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