by Spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as South Africa beat India by 408 runs in the second Test on Wednesday to win the series and condemn the hosts to a record defeat.
It was South Africa’s first series win in India in 25 years after the home team were beaten by a miserable 140 in a mammoth chase of 549 on the fifth day in Guwahati.
Advertising
India suffered their heaviest Test defeat by runs and fifth defeat in seven home Tests after being whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand last year.
36-year-old off-spinner Harmer posted figures of 6-37 as South Africa won a Test series in India for the second time, the first in 2000 under Hansie Cronje.
“Winning a Test match and a Test series in India is very special,” said left-arm quick Marco Jansen, who recorded figures of 6-48 in India’s first innings after hitting a quick 93 with the bat.
Advertising
Jansen, who was named player of the match, added: “Thank you to everyone who raised their hand and made this possible.”
India lost the opening Test in Calcutta in three days on an uneven pitch before South Africa again beat the hosts in their own spin game on a batting-friendly track.
Ravindra Jadeja fought back with 54 before Keshav Maharaj caught him by surprise and the spinner soon got the last wicket of Mohammed Siraj, with Jansen pulling off a stunning catch in the deep.
Advertising
The visitors had declared their second innings at 260-5 on the fourth day, giving India a record run, but the hosts’ batting failed once again and they never threatened to go close.
“Whether you are playing at home or away, cricket requires that determination and extra effort,” India captain Rishabh Pant said.
“As a batting unit, you have to capitalize on certain moments. As a team, we didn’t do that.”
India took advantage of their luck earlier in the day when Jansen left Sai Sudharsan behind but the toss was declared a no-ball after the bowler went too wide. The batsman was on four.
Advertising
In the next over, Kuldeep Yadav survived a reprieve at four when Aiden Markram dropped him at Harmer’s first slip.
But the relief was short-lived for India as a relentless Harmer hit Kuldeep for a fiver on the first wicket of the day.
Three balls later, spinner Dhruv dismissed Jurel for two and soon sent Pant back for 13 as India fell to 58-5.
The batters fell like nine pins on a pitch where South Africa scored 489 after electing to bat.
Advertising
India were all out for 201 and conceded a lead of 288 in the first innings, but South Africa failed to follow through and decided to bat again.
South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy led the batting attack with 109 in the first innings, his first Test century.
fk/pst
