SA VS IND 3RD TEST

Right then. That’s it from the coverage of this game and the Test series as well. But the visitors will not fly back home yet as India and South Africa will battle against each other in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on 19th January, 2022 at 1400 IST (0830 GMT). But as you all know you can join us early for the build-up. Till then, goodbye and take care!

Keegan Petersen is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH and the PLAYER OF THE SERIES. He says that it will take a couple of hours to sink in, but he is feeling happy and emotional. Adds that he took every little positive from each innings he played. It has been a tough journey for him, it has been difficult in different conditions. He says that, It's not been easy coming to Test cricket, there have been challenging wickets to play on, so it has been tough. Mentions that they knew it was always going to be difficult against top bowling attack, but they had a tough mindset. Concludes by saying that he has enjoyed every bit of his innings.

Dean Elgar, the victorious skipper, is in for a chat. He says that they are pretty elated. Mentions that he couldn't be more proud of the group and the guys have responded exceedingly well after the first loss. Tells that one needs to show immense character in these kind of conditions and 60 wickets in three Tests is a tough challenge for the bowlers but they bowled really well and it was unreal to see some performances. Says that he is extremely proud of the team. Adds that it helps to have a group that really doesn't have any big names, the guys just played well and played as a team. Mentions that he laid a few challenges, even to some senior players but it was great to see them take the message and be on board. Says that they have played as a unit and they have grown massively as a group in the last two Tests. States that if one needs to be No.1 someday in Test cricket, one needs to beat the best in the world. Says he is really happy with how things panned out in the end. Also says that they are by no means like a finished article and he is already focusing on the next series. Informs that there are still a few negatives that they need to work on. On Keegan Petersen, he says that he responded really well after the first Test and has shown great character. Also says that he has been brilliant in the domestic circuit for a while now and it's great to see him do so well in these last two Tests. Ends by saying that he's willing to learn more and more and a team needs a player like that who shows great character.

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, is in for a chat. He says, that he thinks it's a great spectacle of Test cricket for everyone. It was a hard-fought series. But South Africa have done well. They were able to capitalize on important hours and were absolutely the deserving winners at the end. Adds that one of the challenges faced during tours are to capitalize on momentum when it is on their side. Whenever they have done that, they have won games. But when they haven't done so, they have lost matches. Mentions that batting was the issue for their side, and South Africans have done well with the ball in these conditions, and yes, batting collapse is an issue and they will work upon that. On being asked what were the things he was happy about, he says that KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal batted well, Pant's century was special and the win at centurion was special too.

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But once again, Jansen and Rabada ran riot with the ball and sent back the opening pair cheaply at the end of Day 2. India would've loved to put up a target of 300 runs, but on the moving day, India lost two wickets within the opening 10 minutes of the morning session, in the form of Pujara and Rahane. It was Pant who played an aggressive innings but not relentless to notch-up his first Test ton against South Africa and set up a target just over 200 runs. India though managed to get a couple of wickets in the final session of Day 3. There were some decisions that the Indians were not happy with and due to lapse of concentration at certain phases might've costed them this series.

Earlier in the game, a vital contribution with the blade by Kohli and Pujara made sure India get 223 runs on the board in the first innings. As South African pacers were on the money and Rabada led the attack with his four-fer. It was the same story for the hosts when they came out to bat, as Keegan Petersen showed composure in the middle and made sure to help his side to get to 210 runs before India bundled them out and had a small lead in hand coming into the third innings.

Best teams fight till the very end, they say. But the body language of India was really low after they came out to field post the Lunch break. Also, surprisingly Kohli went with a combination of Ashwin and Yadav, and South African batters made sure to waste no time and took full advantage of it. Indians started the morning session really well. Their bowlers asked a lot of questions but the batters, had a rub of green, and India could only take a single wicket in the morning session through Lord Shardul Thakur. This wicket gave the visitors a glimmer of hope but South Africa were up to the task and took the game away from India comfortably.

What a revelation Keegan Petersen has been for South Africa. He has been exceptional in this series and that too against a strong bowling attack. In the morning session, Petersen came out with Rassie van der Dussen and saw off the first hour of the session quite comfortably and racked up good amount of runs after Petersen was dropped by Pujara in the slips. But Petersen yet again missed out on his Test century and holed out at 82. Later, Bavuma came to the crease and batted with great composure along with Rassie van der Dussen and remained unscathed till Lunch. After the break, South Africa wasted no time and scored runs at a brisk rate and chased the target within 45 minutes to seal the series.

South Africa take a 2-1 lead and win this Test series. What a turnaround this has been for the Proteas. Winning two back-to-back games to make the series theirs, who would've thought? The South African dressing room are up and celebrating. This Test had everything, drama, emotions, comebacks. Both the teams gave their all but, in the end, the hosts maintain their domination at home and India would be disappointed as they were not able to snatch the series even after winning the first Test match. Let's not forget about the World Test Championship point table. South Africa take the fourth spot after this victory and India slip down a spot and are now 5th on the point table.

FOUR! There comes the winning runs! Loopy ball, outside off. Temba Bavuma sits down on one knee, reaches out for it. He brings out the sweep and sends the ball to deep square leg. Each and every Indian player were stationed inside the ring and thus, the ball easily rolls away to the fence. Temba Bavuma gets the winning runs for his team. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND WIN THE SERIES 2-1!

FIVE RUNS! Oh, dear! A loopy ball, outside off. Rassie van der Dussen taps it to point and scampers through to the other end. Umesh Yadav collects the ball and has a shy at the keepers end. The ball is away from the wickets and there is no out there to stop the ball. The races away towards the boundary for four overthrows. Really sloppy from India!

Flatter, on middle. Rassie van der Dussen, on back foot, blocks it out.

Length delivery, outside off. Temba Bavuma blocks it out.

More runs! A fuller ball, outside off. Rassie van der Dussen leans and drives it past mid off. Shardul Thakur, there dives to his left and tries to stop it, but fails to do so. Three runs taken at the end.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Rassie van der Dussen offers to shot on that.

Fuller length, around middle. Rassie van der Dussen drives and finds Ravichandran Ashwin at mid on.