India taste win in Jo'burg, beat South Africa by 63 runs
Johannesburg, Jan 27 (IBNS): Registering a win in Johannesburg, India have managed to conclude the Test series on a winning note as the visitors defeated South Africa by 63 runs at the Wanderers on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 241, South Africa went all out at 177.
In a match which was more like a seesaw, India maintained its power packed bowling even on the fourth day of the third and final Test match to ensure their first win in the tour.
The first half of the fourth day seemed that South Africa were on the driver's seat as a massive partnership between Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla was literally taking the game away from the Indians.
Post lunch, Ishant was quick to send Amla back home at 52.
Amla, in his beautifully crafted innings, has hit five fours.
Amla was aptly supported by Elgar, who remained unbeaten till the end at 86 runs. Elgar consumed 246 balls to continue the fight.
On a pitch which was offering uneven bounces, the Indian bowlers were right on the money after Amla's dismissal.
AB de Villiers, skipper Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Cock had fallen cheaply to the Indian bowlers.
Vernon Philander, who was showing courage for sometime, took only 18 deliveries to be bowled out by Mohammed Shami at 10 runs.
The tail enders have just followed one another as the Indian bowlers were smelling their maiden victory in the tour.
After the fall of 9th wicket, though Elgar had shifted his gear to score some boundaries, Shami's ball which kissed the bat of Lungisani Ngidi wrapped up the entire innings.
Shami in the second innings took 5 wickets for 28 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah clinched 2/57 and Ishant picked up couple of wickets at an economy of 1.94 in 16 overs.
Though India won the third Test, South Africa registered the series win 2-1.
Lauding the bowlers in the post match ceremony, Indian captain Virat Kohli said: "Bowlers are the biggest positive outcome of the series. They have clinched 60 wickets in the series which is unprecedented."
"As batsmen we made mistakes and we need to learn from it. Thanks to the entire team for showing characters in the match even after losing the series" he added.
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