OTD | India defeated South Africa by 337 runs in what was one of their slowest innings in 2015

India defeated South Africa by 337 runs in the last Test of the series at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. India won the series by 3-0 victory in the four-match series, despite South Africa giving a tough fight in the final session. South Africa’s slim hopes of rescuing a draw after the visitors’ remarkable stonewalling in their very sombre second innings were bolstered by AB de Villiers’ 43 after he batted for around six hours, much of it with a swollen thumb. 

After taking five wickets in the last session, India bowled out South Africa for 143 runs in 143.1 overs, securing victory and moving up to the second spot in the world Test rankings. Continuing their ultra-defensive strategy, South Africa resumed at 72-2 on a foggy morning. Willing to force a draw, captain Hashim Amla and de Villiers persisted in frustrating the Indian bowlers with resolute stonewalling. Virat Kohli used eight bowlers, including himself, as he became desperate to try to separate Amla and de Villiers.

Meanwhile, Hashim Amla left after nearly five hours of somber defending, scoring 25 painstaking runs from 244 balls in what was the slowest test inning of 200 or more balls, and the 27 runs he added with de Villiers in 253 balls was the slowest test partnership of 175 balls or more. Kohli surrounded the batsmen with up to six close-in fielders for his spinners, but India was unable to achieve success until the thirteenth over of the day. As India took the new ball, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja earned the breakthrough in the fifth over, spinning one past Amla’s tentative bat to hit the top of the off-stump before going on a joyful run.

India took the lead when Ashwin delivered the last blow, ending de Villiers’ arduous 297-ball stay with Jadeja scooping the catch at leg slip. Yadav had earlier dismissed Vilas. The fact that de Villiers, who owns the records for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in one-day cricket, was struck on the thumb by a delivery from Umesh Yadav added to the already impressive performance of one of his slowest innings. Following de Villiers’ departure, South Africa lost their final five wickets for seven runs in five overs, ultimately losing the game.

Read More: History of ODI: The First Official ODI Match in South Africa

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