South Africa sealed a record breaking 408 run victory over India after Marco Jansen’s remarkable catch ended the hosts innings on 140, securing a 2-0 series sweep on Wednesday and delivering their biggest ever win on Indian soil.
The match finished with a moment that stunned even South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma. With India down to their final pair, Mohammed Siraj attempted to hit Keshav Maharaj straight down the ground. Jansen sprinted in from mid on, clutched the ball while falling to the turf and held on, prompting disbelief from Bavuma and jubilation among the fielders.
India had been set an improbable target of 549, although their realistic aim was to survive the final day and avoid a whitewash. They resumed on 27 for 2 with eight wickets in hand, but their resistance collapsed under relentless pressure.
Simon Harmer triggered the slide midway through the first session, removing Kuldeep Yadav and Dhruv Jurel in the same over. He then dismissed Rishabh Pant before India could build any meaningful stand.
There was brief defiance from Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja, who battled through to lunch. Sudharsan was 14 not out from 138 balls, while Jadeja had reached 23 from 40. Their partnership, however, ended early in the afternoon session when Sudharsan edged Senuran Muthusamy to Aiden Markram and departed for 14 from 139 deliveries.
Washington Sundar joined Jadeja in another attempt to steady the innings, but Harmer struck again. Sundar edged to Markram, who completed his ninth catch of the match, breaking Ajinkya Rahane’s record from 2015 for the most catches by an outfielder in a single Test. The dismissal also gave Harmer his fifth wicket of the innings.
Harmer removed Nitish Reddy in his next over, taken by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, before the final two wickets fell quickly. Jadeja, battling to a half century, was dismissed for 54, and Siraj followed soon after. Both were claimed by Maharaj.
Harmer finished with outstanding figures of six for 37 from 23 overs, giving him nine wickets in the match, while South Africa completed only their second ever Test series win in India. Their first came in 2000 under Hansie Cronje. A quarter of a century later, Bavuma added his name to that history.
