India vs South Africa, 3rd Test at Nagpur, , Nov 25 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
3rd Test, Nagpur, November 25 - 27, 2015, South Africa tour of India
215 & 173
(T:310) 79 & 185

India won by 124 runs

Player Of The Match
5/32 & 7/66
ravichandran-ashwin
New
SA 2nd Innings
Full commentary

3.25pm India dominate another Test in this series at home. Started the Test just three days back with a good opening stand and they did not look back from there. South Africa's impressive nine-year record ends. Ashwin takes 12 in the game, seven in the second innings to skittle SA out for a combined score of 264 in two innings. India also dismissed SA for 79 in the first innings which was the lowest total India have bowled a side out for. Lot of talk throughout the Test has been about the pitch, which was a minefield on the first couple of days and played slightly better today. So it is SA 2, India 1 in terms of series wins on this tour. The batsmen struggled throughout the match but it was good to see the application of Amla and Faf today. Nowhere close to enough though and India take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Ashwin is the Man of the Match: "The wicket slowed up a bit today, there was help in the wicket but the way Faf and Amla played, we had to put some good balls. One team was trying to fight, one team was trying to win. batsmen go out to make 100s, I go out to get five-fors. I thought Amit bowled a wonderful spell after lunch, we prized out a couple of wickets in that post-lunch session. Anybody who goes out there and trusts his defense can play well.

Hashim Amla: "Obviously very disappointing. It was a hard game. Whether we win or lose, we have to fight honorably and well done to the guys. We tried to dig deep as long as we can. The pitch was a difficult factor, it was turning and bouncing whether the new ball or the old one. Three day matches are difficult.

Virat Kohli: "Very pleasing indeed, especially because they won the ODI and T20 series. Some good cricket in Mohali, Bangalore and here. feels very good. we played some good cricket. Ashwin is a world-class spinner, he stepped up in a big way for us, maybe the best in the world at the moment, we expected them to string in a partnership or two. This is what Test cricket is, we need patience with the ball and believing a chance will come. Mishra showed great character in that period. I think it was a challenging wicket, the batsmen applied better in Mohali. It is all about application. There are no sorts of excuses on that, our batsmen showed character in three innings. Sometimes you have conditions where it is going to be bowler-friendly, chances can be created. Spinner s have had an upper hand in the series. Sealing the series was very important, Delhi will be an opportunity for us to be more consistent.

89.5
W
Ashwin to Morkel, OUT

bowled im. Ashwin gets seven. And India take the series. SA's nine-year record ends. May have been the carrom ball or the slider but the ball drifts on and snakes through the gap between bat and pad to clatter into leg stump. Morkel did not pick that. India complete a 124-run victory and an unassailable 2-0 series lead going to Delhi

Morne Morkel b Ashwin 4 (8b 1x4 0x6 6m) SR: 50
89.4
Ashwin to Morkel, no run

that was better, slowed up on off, outside half of the bat goes to silly point

89.3
4
Ashwin to Morkel, FOUR runs

low full toss on leg, whacked with a drive to the long-on boundary. Easy runs to add to Morkel's tally

Pratik: "Nice to see that SA won the second inniings"

89.2
1
Ashwin to Harmer, 1 run

flat and short, enough time for Harmer to go back and clip to deep backward square leg

89.1
2
Ashwin to Harmer, 2 runs

flat on leg, a thick inside edge goes through and past leg slip for a couple to fine leg

end of over 891 run
SA: 178/9CRR: 2.00 
Morne Morkel0 (5b)
Simon Harmer5 (22b)
Amit Mishra 20-2-51-3
Ravichandran Ashwin 29-7-59-6
88.6
Mishra to Morkel, no run

flat outside off, Morkel keeps it out with a defense

88.5
Mishra to Morkel, no run

flat on leg, hits Morkel on the pad

88.4
Mishra to Morkel, no run

flatter on leg, Morkel keeps it out with a block

88.3
1
Mishra to Harmer, 1 run

Vijay makes a good diving stop, fuller and wide outside off. Harmer drives elegantly to wide mid-off.

88.2
Mishra to Harmer, no run
88.1
Mishra to Harmer, no run

almost a run-out, sent back just in time, shortish on leg, turned to square leg. they think of one but Morkel sends him back just in time

end of over 881 run • 1 wicket
SA: 177/9CRR: 2.01 
Morne Morkel0 (2b)
Simon Harmer4 (19b)
Ravichandran Ashwin 29-7-59-6
Amit Mishra 19-2-50-3
87.6
Ashwin to Morkel, no run

fantastic from Ash, Fired in quick on a good length, plenty of turn takes it past the outside edge

87.5
Ashwin to Morkel, no run

80 kph, overpitched on middle, driven to mid-off

India just one wicket away from a series win

87.4
W
Ashwin to Rabada, OUT

edged and gone this time. Kohli is happy, he has taken one. Full delivery on off, a hint of turn which is enough to take the outside edge of Rabada's bat. Kohli at gully takes it in front of his stomach.

Kagiso Rabada c Kohli b Ashwin 6 (17b 1x4 0x6 17m) SR: 35.29
87.3
Ashwin to Rabada, no run

shortish on middle, defended

87.2
1
Ashwin to Harmer, 1 run

swept through deep backward square leg

87.1
Ashwin to Harmer, no run

too much bounce, too much turn. Tossed up on off, Harmer goes to flick but the ball sneaks through and hits him on the pad. There is an optimistic appeal

end of over 872 runs
SA: 176/8CRR: 2.02 
Kagiso Rabada6 (15b 1x4)
Simon Harmer3 (17b)
Amit Mishra 19-2-50-3
Ravichandran Ashwin 28-7-58-5
86.6
Mishra to Rabada, no run

tossed up on off, Rabada opens up his bat face and tries to hit to cover but hits it back to the bowler who fires back a throw to the keeper

86.5
Mishra to Rabada, no run

fullish on off, Rabada comes down and defends

Our statsman Bharat Seervi, "Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker in Tests this year. Last time an Indian ended as the highest wicket-taker in a calendar year in Tests was Anil Kumble in 2007 (49 wkts)"

86.4
1
Mishra to Harmer, 1 run

short on leg, clipped to deep square leg

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