- South African spinner Simon Harmer takes six wickets.
- This is India’s biggest defeat at home by runs.
- Proteas clinch Test series in India for only second time.
Spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as South Africa cruised to a 408-run victory in the second Test for their first series win in India in 25 years on Wednesday.
World Test champions South Africa bowled out a woeful India for 140 in a mammoth chase of 549 on day five in Guwahati for a 2-0 Test sweep.
It is India’s heaviest home defeat by runs and their fifth defeat in seven home Tests, after New Zealand had won 3-0 last year.
Harmer, 36, returned figures of 6-37 as South Africa clinched a Test series in India for only the second time, the first being in 2000 under Hansie Cronje.
Ravindra Jadeja held on for 54 before being bowled by Keshav Maharaj and the spinner soon took the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj, with Marco Jansen taking a stunning catch in the deep.
India lost the opening Test in Kolkata within three on a pitch with uneven bounce before South Africa once again beat the hosts in their own spin game on a batting-friendly track.
The visitors declared their second innings at 260-5 on the fourth day to give India a record, but the home side fell short once again and never threatened to get close.
India rode their luck early in the day when Jansen edged back Sai Sudarshan but the delivery was ruled a no-ball after the bowler overstepped. The batting was on four.
In the next over, another overnight batsman, Kuldeep Yadav, survived a reprieve for four when Aiden Markram dropped him at first slip from Harmer.
But the relief was short-lived for India as a relentless Harmer soon bowled Kuldeep for five for the first wicket of the day.
The off-spinner then dismissed Dhruv Jurel for two, three balls later and soon sent back skipper Rishabh Pant for 13 as India slipped to 58-5.
The batting fell like nine pins on a pitch where South Africa scored 489 after electing to bat.
India were bundled out for 201 to concede a first-innings lead of 288, but South Africa did not impose a follow-on and decided to bat again.
Left-arm quick Jansen returned figures of 6-48 in India’s first innings after the bowler hit a quickfire 93 with the bat.
South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy led the charge with 109, his maiden Test century.
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