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Day 4 report: South Africa produced a gritty defensive performance to grind their way to 72/2 in the second innings to trail by 408 runs at the close after India declared their second stint at 267/5 on the penultimate day of the fourth and final cricket Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Sunday. Ajinkya Rahane achieved the landmark distinction of two centuries in the same match as India declared their second innings after building up a lead of 480 runs. The Mumbai right-hander, who scored 127 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 100 with eight boundaries and three sixes for the sixth Test ton of his career. [caption id=“attachment_2506714” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of AB de Villiers. AFP[/caption] Rahane is the fifth Indian batsman to achieve the feat. The others who earned the distinction earlier were the late Vijay Hazare (once), Sunil Gavaskar (thrice), Rahul Dravid (twice) and current skipper Virat Kohli (once). Chasing a mammoth victory target, the visitors lost opener Dean Elgar (4) early before Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma (34) and AB de Villiers came up with a solid defensive performance. At the close, Amla and AB de Villiers were at the crease for South Africa. Amla scored unbeaten 23 painstaking runs off 207 deliveries. He took 46 balls to open his account. De Villiers took 32 balls to get off the mark before inching his way to 11 by the close. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the only successful Indian bowler on the day, returning figures of 2/29. Umesh Yadav (0/6), Ishant Sharma (0/16), Ravindra Jadeja (0/10), Shikhar Dhawan (0/9) and Murali Vijay (0/2) all toiled away without any reward as the visitors went into a defensive shell. Earlier, starting at the overnight score of 190/4, India lost captain Virat Kohli in the fifth over of the day. Kohli scored 88 runs before being trapped leg before by pacer Kyle Abbott. The Delhi lad hit 10 boundaries during his 165-ball knock. Abbott got Kohli with one that kept low after pitching outside off. Kohli’s dismissal brought to an end his 154-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Rahane. The partisan home crowd at the Kotla, who were left stunned at Kohli’s dismissal, soon found their voice again as Rahane scored at a brisk clip and gradually approached his century. The 27-year-old started to unleash the big shots as he approached his century, hitting leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a six over midwicket before stepping out to smash Elgar into the stands in the next over. He had earlier lifted a Morne Morkel delivery for a six over third man. He completed his century with a single off Tahir as the crowd leapt to their feet in applause. The declaration came immediately after. Pacer Morkel was the standout performer among the Proteas bowlers with figures of 3/51. Abbott (1/47) and Tahir (1/74) also got a wicket each. Set a victory target of 481 runs, the visitors suffered an early setback when Elgar edged Ashwin to Rahane at first slip. His departure saw Amla stride to the middle and the Proteas skipper proceeded to try and wear out the Indian bowlers along with Bavuma with a gritty defensive display. The duo blocked most of the deliveries that came their way with only the occasional boundaries from Bavuma breaking the monotony. Amla was off to a very slow start, opening his account in his 46th ball by taking a couple after an inside edge off Jadeja. He is now fourth on the list of batsmen consuming most number of balls before opening their account. England’s John Murray (80 deliveries) holds the record in this dubious category which came during a Test match in Adelaide in an Ashes series against Australia in 1962. England pacer Stuart Broad (62 balls) and Grant Flower (51 balls) of Zimbabwe are also ahead of Amla in the list. Broad produced his feat in 2013 and Grant in the year 2000, New Zealand being the opponents on both occasions. After Bavuma was sent back to the pavilion by a superb Ashwin delivery, de Villers and Amla continued to stall the Indian bowlers. The partnership notched up a whopping 62 dot balls before Amla brought up the first runs with a boundary off Dhawan’s first ball of the day. De Villers defended for 32 balls before getting off the mark with a single off his 33rd. IANS
India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 5 as it happened: India complete 3-0 series win
Live scores and updates of day 5 of the fourth Test between India and South Africa in Delhi.
 "India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 5 as it happened: India complete 3-0 series win")
ICC Test rankings
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 7, 2015
114 South Africa
111 India
109 Australia
106 Pakistan
99 England
95 New Zealand
94 Sri Lanka
76 West Indies
47 Bangladesh
Leading wicket takers in the #INDvSA series:
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 7, 2015
Ashwin - 31 at 11.12
Jadeja - 23 at 10.82
Tahir - 14 at 21.35https://t.co/ZylCuB3zR6
This is the first time that South Africa have lost 3 Tests in a series since 2006. They had then lost to Australia by a 3-0 margin #INDvSA
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 7, 2015
143/10 in 143.1 - what a fitting finish to this Test!!!#IndvsSA
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 7, 2015
That’s it! India win by 337 runs. They wint he series 3-0!
Ashwin gets a five-for as he cleans up Morkel who looks to leave a straight one outside off. The Indian player go bererk in celebrations. What a turnaround after tea and what a wonderful Test match.
OUT! Umesh gets Piedt! Fantastic catch from Saha.
Short of a good length delivery outside off, it swings away. Piedt looks to push at it but gets an outside edge, Saha dives full length to his right and pouches a stunner. India just one wicket away from victory.
Imran Tahir is the new batsman.
AB de Villiers has impressed everyone. He has faced 297 balls and batted for six minutes short of six hours. Wonderful change of gears.
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) December 7, 2015
Umesh YAdav strikes first over after tea! Dane Vilas’ horror series continues as he plays on from what looked like an in-dipper.
After 139 overs SA 136/6
Ayaz Memon will be with us today as well.
In attack or defence @ABdeVilliers17 is masterclass; the best in the world
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 7, 2015
Tea on day 5: South Africa 136/5 (De Villiers 43 off 296 balls, Vilas 13 off 45 balls)
De Villiers has been unflustered and rock solid. He’s spent 343 minutes at the crease, suffered 3 blows on the gloves but his defiance has meant that South Africa are fighting for the survuval. Jadeja and Ashwin will have to come out all guns blazing in the last session to turn it around. Time is an important factor as the light fades very fast so all the factors will prove to be crucial in deciding the result of the match.
After 137 overs, South Africa 135/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 12)
An accurate over from Umesh. He is mixing them up well nicely but De Villiers is extremely cautious and alert to know which one to play and which ones to elave. A maiden.
After 135 overs, South Africa 135/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 12)
Jadeja bowls another maiden.
After 134 overs, South Africa 135/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 12)
Umesh getting a hint of reverse. He varied his swing well. De Villiers, however, is unflustered. A maiden.
We could well have a dramatic finish here. For that, SA will need to lose one more before tea. But light isn't great. Could be a factor.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 7, 2015
After 133 overs, South Africa 135/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 12)
There is a huge appeal for a catch from behind the wicket as Vilas misses his forward defense but it seemed like the bat hit the pad. Vilas then pushes one through mid off for a boundary. Four runs off the over.
After 132 overs, South Africa 131/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 8)
Still Kohli is not proactive in the field. Umesh had troubled De Villiers with that extra bounce but still there was no short leg. De Villiers again gets one to rear off the surface and he fends it away to the leg side. The physio is back in the field. Kohli then keeps a short leg fielder. Umesh then brings one back in off a good length and cramps De Villiers for room, his misses his flick and gets hit on the thigh pads for a leg bye. A fiery over from Umesh.
After 132 overs, South Africa 131/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 8)
Three fours in the last two overs now. Vilas punches one through covers and it runs away to the fence. The next one pitches on the rough patch outside off, Vilas lunges forward for a defense but it just snakes off the surface beating both the batsman and the keeper for four byes. 8 runs off the over.
De Villiers batting on 27 off 253 balls. Gavaskar, Siva and Manjrekar in the commentary box.
— The Goan Patiala * (@TheGoanPatiala) December 7, 2015
Sigh#IndvsSA
After 131 overs, South Africa 123/5 (De Villiers 43, Vilas 4)
Some thing to cheer for the crowd as De Villiers thumps one through mid off for a boundary off the third ball. The next two are defended cautiously. The last one turns viciously fom outside off and De Villiers looks to pad it away bit it spins way wide of the leg stump and Saha comes up with a good take. Four runs off the over.
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