Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That's all from our side for this game. See you soon.

Elsewhere, the recently-concluded NBA India Games in Mumbai left an undeniable buzz and energy all across the country. So, is India prepared for a league of its own? We think so.

Rohit Sharma, the Man of the Match: Thanks to everyone for giving me that opportunity but the focus was on winning the match. The communication to me happened a couple of years ago that I might open at some stage. So even when I wasn't playing Tests, I was batting against the new balls in the nets. No matter what ball you play, red or white, if you are starting the innings, you need to be careful. When the ball is doing a little bit, you have to access the situation. That's what my game is all about, a bit of caution and a bit of aggression. The whole focus was to go out there and have fun.

Virat Kohli: I think the wicket played really good for the first three days. We lost one session so it was going to be a bit tougher. But once you have 500 on the board, it's difficult for the opposition. Mayank and Rohit played brilliantly. Pujara too in the second innings. It was a hard grind though because of the weather and the pitch slowing down. It's all about the attitude. If fast bowlers step out thinking, spinners are going to do the job, then it's not going to happen. But fast bowlers have been brilliant in India as well. They might prefer shorter spells but it's all about wanting to do for the team. Jaddu and Ash again really really good. Ash in the first innings especially, given the conditions. Jadeja in the second making those quick wickets. But Shami has been a wicket-taker for us in the second innings for quite some time now. This lot of SG balls is much better than the last lot. The hard ball obviously makes it difficult for the batsmen. We would like to see the ball remaining hard till about 60 overs. This was better from the last lot but we would like to stay it hard for 60 overs.

Faf du Plessis: India batted really well in the first innings. We fought well but the second innings was tough. Rohit played really well. I thought up until this morning we competed really well. You can always sit after a game like this what you can do but apart from Shami this morning, the seamers' job was of holding. On a day five pitch, things happen quicker, but it's the nature of Test cricket.

Time for the post-match presentation.

India now have 160 points on the World Test Championship table with three wins in three games, strengthening their pole position.

Mohammed Shami: It's difficult to bowl on such a wicket because it was getting slower. So the plan was to bowl at the stumps. Jaddu and Ash bowled well. We knew variable bounce and reverse swing would help us in the second innings. So we tried to attack the stumps. It was important to get the top batters out as early as possible.

1.48pm So a 203-run victory for India. Could have been even more if not for the ninth-wicket stand between Piedt and Muthusamy. Apart from Shami, Jadeja too picked up four, three of them in the same over. India looked like a well-oiled machine. Rohit shone with twin tons while opening the innings for the first time in a Test. Agarwal got his maiden Test ton, in fact a double, as well. Ashwin and Jadeja contributed with the ball as they always have at home. On the other hand, a lot of questions for South Africa.

63.5
W
Mohammed Shami to Rabada, OUT, and there is that edge. Saha makes no mistake, Shami gets five. Fuller outside off, Rabada once again goes for a big drive, gets a healthy edge and an easy catch for Saha

K Rabada c †Saha b Mohammed Shami 18 (19b 3x4 1x6) SR: 94.73

63.4
0
Mohammed Shami to Rabada, no run, length ball, around sixth stump, looks to drive without any feet movement, beaten

Around the wicket

63.3
0
Mohammed Shami to Rabada, no run, fuller on the stumps, goes for the slog, mistimes it towards short midwicket
63.2
0
Mohammed Shami to Rabada, no run, short of length around off, doesn't bounce much, taps it towards covers

Two slips, two short midwickets

63.1
1
Mohammed Shami to Muthusamy, 1 run, length ball on the pads, tucked away towards fine leg

END OF OVER:
63 | 5 Runs | SA: 190/9

  • Kagiso Rabada18 (15b)
  • Senuran Muthusamy48 (107b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja25-6-87-4
  • Mohammed Shami10-2-34-4
62.6
4
Jadeja to Rabada, FOUR, short of length outside off, cuts it through covers for four more
62.5
0
Jadeja to Rabada, no run, length outside off, looks to defend well inside the line, beaten
62.4
1
Jadeja to Muthusamy, 1 run, fuller outside off, goes for the slog, an inside edge towards backward square leg

South Africa 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4D ElgarAK Markram
2nd15TB de BruynAK Markram
3rd1T BavumaAK Markram
4th32F du PlessisAK Markram
5th8Q de KockAK Markram
6th10S MuthusamyAK Markram
7th0VD PhilanderS Muthusamy
8th0KA MaharajS Muthusamy
9th91DL PiedtS Muthusamy
10th30S MuthusamyK Rabada