New Delhi: Ravindra Jadeja plotted South Africa’s downfall with a five-wicket haul after Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant century as India gained complete control of the fourth cricket Test by taking a commanding 213-run lead on the second day here on Friday.
Jadeja produced a mesmerising spell of 5/30 to skittle out the hapless visitors for a paltry 121 in 49.3 overs on a sporting Feroz Shah Kotla track.
The Proteas did not even bat two full sessions falling 14 runs short of saving the follow-on score of 135 after Rahane’s 127 helped India post a decent 334 in their first innings. The Indians, however, decided not to impose the follow on.
While left-arm spinner Jadeja accounted for bulk of the spoils with pin-point accuracy, it was a magical delivery by pacer Umesh Yadav (2/32) and Ishant Sharma’s (1/28) sharp bowling that remained the highlight of the final two sessions.
Ravichandran Ashwin (2/26) also increased his series wickets tally to 26 after helping himself to a half-century with the bat.
With a far better pitch on offer, it seemed that South African batsmen had lost the battle in their heads even before they came out to face the Indian quartet on the 22 yards.
It was a combination of disciplined bowling and some reckless batting that led to South Africa’s downfall.
Once again, AB de Villiers fought a lone battle scoring 42 and was the 9th batsman to be dismissed when Ishant took a well judged catch at the long-off boundary.
With three full days left in the game, India were firmly in the driver’s seat to record a historic 3-0 win over South Africa.
Comeback-man Yadav drew first blood by removing Dean Elgar (17), who was caught by Wriddhiman Saha trying to steer a fuller delivery.
In the post tea session, it was Jadeja, who got into the act with his accurate length bowling.
Opener Temba Bavuma (22), who replaced an out of form Stiaan van Zyl, was bowled by an arm ball that kept low.
Hashim Amla’s (1) horrible series continued as he tried to play square cut when a Jadeja delivery was too close for comfort. The result was a nick snapped up by Saha behind the stumps.
From 56/3, it soon became 62 for four when Faf du Plessis (0) tried to play a lap shot only to find Rahane run back from his first slip position to take a simple catch at backward short leg.