The Proteas managed to hold on to their unbeaten home series record against India with a seven-wicket victory in the final Test on Day 4 at Six Gun Grill Newlands.
The first session of Day 4 belonged to South Africa, as they scored 70 runs, and now need 41 runs to win with 7 wickets in hand.
Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen resumed play today at 101/2. Absorbing pressure created by an unrelenting Indian bowling lineup, Petersen and van der Dussen stitched a 54-run partnership. There were plenty of plays and misses, but both batters showed great resolve to inch towards victory.
Bumrah induced an edge off Petersen when he was batting on 59, which was dropped by Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip. Petersen was, ultimately, dismissed by Shardul Thakur for 82, and received a standing ovation from his team as he walked back to the dressing room.
Temba Bavuma replaced Petersen at the crease, and he stamped his authority straightaway, hitting two boundaries off a Jasprit Bumrah over. At lunch, South Africa were at 171/3, requiring another 41 runs to win.
After lunch, it was a straightforward chase for victory. This victory was not only satisfying for the team the South African fans should draw a great deal of confidence from the result against a team that was predicted to walk over the hosts.
Temba Bavuma’s sweep against Ashwin was indicative of his recent form, and a nod to the amazing work that Petersen has done in the series – KP being the man who set the standard throughout the tour.
KP finished as the top run-scorer in the series with 276 runs at an average of 46 that included three half-centuries – 62, 72 and 82.
Temba sealed the 7-wicket victory with a boundary to the delight of the Proteas dressing room.
Bavuma finished with 31 off 58 balls and Rassie van der Dussen provided a solid contribution of 41 off 95 balls as SA sealed the win and with it the series 2-1. India’s wait to win a series in SA after 29 years continues.
Keegan Petersen is the Player of the Match & Player of the Series.
Some interesting stats for this series:
The 55 wickets came through catches, the most ever in any Test series by one team, the 20 in this 3rd Test match alone was the most in Test history.
Marco Jansen’s 19 wickets in his debut series are the most by a South African since readmission. Pant became the first Asian wicketkeeper to hit a century in all of England, Australia and South Africa.
Dean Elgar has scored the second-most runs (526) in the fourth innings of Tests since 2018 (Kusal Mendis the most with 578 runs).
India losing the series after winning the first Test is rare, it happened the following times: vs England, 1984/85 (home), vs South Africa, 2006/07 (away), vs England, 2012/13 (home), vs South Africa, 2021/22 (away).
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
