Shami five-for helps India denied series sweep

India 187 (Kohli 54, Pujara 50, Rabada 3-39) sand 247 (Rahane 48, Kohli 41, Bhuvneshwar 33, Morkel 3-47) beat South Africa 194 (Amla 61, Bumrah 5-54, Bhuvneshwar 3-44) and 177 (Elgar 86*, Amla 52, Shami 5-28) by 63 runs.

Johannesburg: India denied South Africa a clean sweep, winning the third and the final Test at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg by 63 runs, riding on a late burst by the Indian bowlers led by Mohammed Shami on Day 4.

South Africa lost their last nine wickets for just 53 runs slumping from 124 for 1 to 177 all out.

After Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla played out of their skins to frustrate the Indian bowlers for most part of the day, two quick wickets in the form of Amla (52) and AB de Villiers (6), opened the flood gates.

Faf du Plessis was undone by a sharp inswinger by Ishant Sharma while Jasprit Bumrah got rid of the terribily out of form Quinton de Kock for a first-ball duck.

Shami, who had only bowled nine overs in the second innings to this point, sprang to life with the wicket of Vernon Philander (10), Andile Phehlukwayo (0) and Morne Morkel (0). Bhuvneshwar Kumar added the scalp of Kagiso Rabada (0) before Shami completed a five-for with the wicket of Lungi Ngidi.

Shami finished with 5 for 28, while Elgar carried his bat through with a valiant 240-ball 86-run knock.

Earlier in the day, Amla and Elgar had put South Africa in control before India came back with two quick strikes just before tea.

Amla put on display an exemplary defensive technique to defy India bowlers along with Elgar who continued is streaky but courageous knock.

Both struck half-centuries in a century stand before Ishant struck with the wicket of Amla on 52 thanks to an outstanding catch from Hardik Pandya.

De Villiers lasted 13 deliveries before edging one from Jasprit Bumrah to gully to walk back on six. India landed two big blows in the space of 21 deliveries.