And that whitewash is effectively done by Virat Kohli’s team as predicted on the very first day of the match. But the way South Africa completely surrendered during their batting that was certainly not expected. Here is the IND vs SA 3rd Test Day 3 and Day 4 story-
Day 3- A forgetful tale for South Africa
There were only positives for India throughout IND vs SA 3rd Test Day 3. Umesh Yadav once again proved his comeback worthy and he should be considered seriously for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, at the very least, and the trip to New Zealand thereafter as well. The day began with South Africa reeling with 8/2.
Immediately Umesh Yadav picked up the most important wickets of the Proteas. Faf du Plessis was gone for just one run.
Then a partnership was developed between Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma. But the Indian bowling attack was too ruthless for the visitors to carry on with that. Ravindra Jadeja took care of Hamza on his personal score of 62. The procession began once again once Hamza and Bavuma (32) left.
The debutant George Linde even tried to put a fight with the bat as well. His 37 off 81 was the reason behind South Africa’s 150+ score. Finally, they were bundled up for 162 and as expected Virat Kohli enforced follow-on with a 335-lead.
The writing was on the wall when Dean Elgar retired hurt even as their top order crumbled in the second innings. Among the top six batsmen, only one could reach double digits with the scores being 5,16,0,4,0, and 5. Interestingly while top order failed to face the Indian bowlers, few delivered unexpectedly at the lower order.
Linde was once again up for an effort with 27 runs. Then Dane Piedt scored 23 runs. Theunis de Bruyn, the concussion substitute of Dean Elger turned out to be the highest scorer for South Africa in the second innings. He scored a 42-ball 30* and remained their only hope of saving some dignity at the stumps on day 3 (132/8).
India claimed 16 wickets on the third day at Ranchi and South Africa somehow managed to take the match into the fourth day, thanks to the bad light. This was the joint-most wickets they lost in a day’s play in more than 100 years in Test cricket.
Earlier they lost exactly 16 wickets on the third day of the 2002 Johannesburg Test against Australia followed by 16 and more wickets in day’s play on three other instances recorded till 1912.
IND vs SA 3rd Test Day 4- A 41-minute affair
India took exactly 41 minutes and 12 balls on the IND vs SA 3rd Test Day 4 to wrap up the game. South Africa could manage to add only one run to their overnight score of 132. But that too came through a leg bye delivered by Mohammed Shami to de Bruyn.
The next over saw Shahbaz Nadeem taking two wickets back to back to clinch the victory for India. South Africa was defeated by an innings and 202 runs.
Indian pace attack
As for the Indian pacemen concerned, they continued to raise their standards innings after innings. Mohammed Shami added three more in the second innings to go with his two in the first. On the other hand, the comeback man Umesh Yadav added two more to his tally of three from the first.
Umesh Yadav became only the second pacer ever to take more than three wickets in five consecutive Test innings in India. Courtney Walsh had seven consecutive innings of 3+ wickets on Indian soil.
Most importantly, The bowling average of 17.5 by the Indian pacers in this Test series is their best in any Test series of three or more matches. Umesh and Shami have picked up 12 out of the 20 wickets of the opposition camp while the expectation was higher from the spinners.
Dream debut for Nadeem
A fairytale last-minute inclusion after 15 years of waiting saw Shahbaz Nadeem giving his all. The left-arm spinner finally got his first Test wicket in front of his home audience when he dismissed Temba Bavuma in the first innings. Then he went on to add the scalp of Anrich Nortje to that list. The way he was playing a hat-trick was probably on the cards but unfortunately, there was no wicket left!
This was indeed India’s historic win over South Africa and was completed a display of India’s Lethal bowling attack.