Johannesburg: Mohammad Shami scalped five wickets as South Africa collapsed sensationally in the final session of the day to hand India a historic 63-run victory at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.
South Africa were 136 for three at tea on Saturday, but lost seven wickets for just 41 runs in a match which resumed after being stopped early on Friday due to fears over a pitch which had been slammed as dangerous by observers.
Elgar and Amla put on 119 for the second wicket, only the third century partnership of the series, taking South Africa more than halfway towards their target. But India hit back with the wickets of Amla and AB de Villiers in quick succession.
Amla fell with the total on 124 when he clipped Ishant Sharma firmly towards midwicket and Hardik Pandya dived to his right to hold a good catch. He had batted for four hours and faced 140 balls in making his second half-century of the match.
De Villiers started confidently with a boundary off Sharma but was out for six when he was squared up by a lifting delivery from Jasprit Bumrah which flew off the shoulder of his bat to Ajinkya Rahane at gully.
Conditions remained difficult for batting but there were none of the extreme bounces and deviations that prompted the umpires to halt play shortly before the scheduled close on Friday.
The pitch had come under severe scrutiny over the first three days with a series of batsmen taking hits. The last straw on Friday had come when Elgar was hit on the grille of his helmet by a short ball from Bumrah.
There were 23 overs remaining on Saturday before India could claim a second new ball, with batting against a new ball having been a major challenge throughout the match.
— AFP
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