Jadeja completed his five-wicket haul when AB tried to hit him over the deep cover boundary and was brilliantly caught by Ishant Sharma. Ashwin picked his second wicket of the match when Tahir mistimed one towards deep midwicket, where Lokesh Rahul took another good catch. Two good catches and South Africa have been bowled out for 121. India have already taken a huge 213-run lead. Trouble for South Africa once again!
It was Rahane earlier in the day, who, resuming at overnight 89*, went on to score his fifth Test century before being dismissed by 127. One of the highlights of that knock was his 95-run partnership for the eighth wicket with R Ashwin, who scored 56.
It was also Rahane’s first century on home soil, in addition to his previous four at Wellington, Lord’s, Melbourne and Colombo.
In reply, barring AB de Villiers’ 42, none of the South Africans could cross 22, which was scored by make-shift opener Temba Bavuma. Apart from Jadeja’s five-for, Ashwin took 2 for 26, Umesh Yadav 2 for 32 and Ishant Sharma 1 for 28.
Stumps were drawn for the day when the last South African wicket fell in fading light at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
The Proteas did not even bat two full sessions, falling 14 runs short of saving the follow-on score of 135.
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 spinners.
It was a combination of disciplined bowling and some reckless batting that led to South Africa’s batting collapse.
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 boundary.
With three full days left in the game, India were firmly in control to register a historic 3-0 win over South Africa.
Comeback-man Yadav drew the 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 castled by an arm ball that kept low.
Hashim Amla’s horrible series continued as he also departed soon after on a score of 1, trying to play the square cut off Jadeja’s delivery that was too close resulting in a nick snapped up by Saha behind the stumps.
From 56/3, it soon became 62 for four when Faf du Plessis (0) found Rahane at backward short leg off the bowling of Jadeja.
The India pacers, who have so far played second fiddle to the spinners, too drove home the advantage with Yadav uprooting JP Duminy’s (1) off-stump and Ishant Sharma castling Dane Vilas (11).
After that the rest of the South African batting lineup crumbled like a pack of cards with Abbott (4), Pedt (5), De Villiers (42), and Tahir (1) all falling in a heap.
India have already sealed the four-match series after winning the first and third Tests in Mohali and Nagpur. The second Test in Bangalore was washed out after the first day’s play.
