The tourists were bowled out for 171 in their last over and South Africa reached 172 with 32 balls to spare, wrapping up a comfortable win that stood in contrast to their narrow victory in Friday`s first encounter in Cape Town.
De Villiers broke his own record for the fastest half-century by a South African in a T20 International, trimming the mark from 23 to 21 balls.
Together with Hashim Amla, he enjoyed a first-wicket partnership of 125 to effectively seal victory before he was caught out on the boundary. Amla finished unbeaten on 69.
England were their own worst enemies when Eoin Morgan ran out in-form batsman Alex Hales with the score on 61, but a 96-run partnership between the England captain and Jos Buttler had guided the tourists to 157-3 in the 17th over.
They fell apart, however, when they then lost their last seven wickets for just 14 runs to leave South Africa with a modest target to chase at a ground where high scoring is the norm.
Sunday’s match ended England’s 10-week tour where they won the four-match test series 2-1 but surrendered a 2-0 lead in the ODI series to lose 3-2, before being beaten in both T20 internationals.
The Proteas' batting line-up folded up for scores of 184 and 109 at Mohali, which India won by 109 runs, and 214 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test to which the hosts replied with 80 for no loss on day one after which no play was possible because of rain and wet ground.
In-form opener Murali Vijay feels the intense pressure put on the visiting South African batsmen by India's spin bowlers has paved the way for the home team's domination of the four-match Test series so far.
"To be honest, the pressure we have put on the batsman, it was incredible to watch from close-in. It is a cat mouse game, everybody trying to come one up and the bowler trying to come up on the batsman and it has been going well for us," Vijay told reporters at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Monday ahead of the third match of the four-Test rubber commencing on November 25.
"It is the pure pressure we put on them and obviously the same vice-versa. When we go out to bat we have our plans and they are also putting immense pressure. So it is a good contest to be part of," the opener remarked further about the series in which India are 1-0 up after winning the opener at Mohali that was followed by the rain-hit, drawn second game at Bengaluru.
The Proteas' batting line-up folded up for scores of 184 and 109 at Mohali, which India won by 109 runs, and 214 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test to which the hosts replied with 80 for no loss on day one after which no play was possible because of rain and wet ground.
The visitors collapsed in a heap against the home team's triple spin attack in the two innings at Mohali and were equally clueless in Bengaluru too - barring AB de Villiers - against Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (Amit Mishra was left out) in the only completed innings.
Vijay said the team's confidence was high after the good show so far and did not thought the Mohali batting show, when they were shot out for 201 and 200, was a cause for worry.
"The confidence is really high as for now because we had a good game and the first day was in our favour. I don't know the batting is a worry for us because everybody is one match away from a big knock and this match may be the one."
He was modest about his own form that has seen him score 75, 47 and 28 not out in conditions that have helped spinners.
"I am trying to play my best and put the Indian team in a good position and so far so good, it has been coming out well for me. I am a good state in a mind and that is more important for me at the moment," said Vijay, who made his debut at this venue in 2008 against Australia.
Recalling that game, the Tamil Nadu batsman said it gives him a good feeling to be back at this ground where he opened with Virender Sehwag.
"This ground means a lot to me because I made my debut here. It is a special feeling to come to this dressing room. It is always nice to come here."
Vijay said while it may be too early to assess his own recent performance, he has benefited from being a regular part of the Test team.
"I think it's too early to answer that question because I have a lot of seasons to go. I prepare my game for all the three formats of the game but at the moment I am fitting into the Test team, so obviously I am working hard. My aim is to keep improving every session and add value to the team.
At the moment I am the right space and as I told you for the past two years I have been travelling around and got good experience of how you got to organise yourself out in the middle, so a lot of learning happened," he said.
Asked about opening with a flamboyant batsman like Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay said he has a good rapport with all the top order batsmen through playing in domestic cricket.
"All of us in the top 5, I have a good rapport with everyone because we have played the domestics together. It has been good but as I told you before it is just a knock away for Shikhar to get the big one and for everybody it is the same. We are working as a pack so obviously our goal is to the win the game and put the team in a better position when we go in to bat. That is our criteria at the moment."
Vijay said he could not talk about the pitch prepared for the match, which according to reports is dry and would aid spin, as he had come directly to the media briefing without going to the ground.
"I straightaway came to the press conference and didn't go to the ground. Hopefully it should be a good, sporting wicket."
On Jadeja's fine comeback after being left out, Vijay said he was an asset to the team with his all-round abilities. "He is a great asset to the team because he can bowl, he can field well and he is a good batsman at that slot and he has done really well for himself after coming back."
The Test opener said he was not affected too much either by criticism or praise.
"It is the way you take things. People are always going to talk, whether you perform or not. It is a very individual oriented thing. Actually I like to be criticised because I can get good points out of it, maybe I can work on it. At times it helps, so I don't give too much thought about criticism or praise. It should be balanced I think."
While agreeing that a big crowd support was welcome, he said the players don't have time to think about this aspect.
"If you get into a game with this intensity you don't really think about the crowd because already there are a lot of things to think about. But it will be adding value if lot of people turn up at the ground and support us and it will be great fun."
Having been India's strike bowler in the Test series win in Sri Lanka, Ravichandran Ashwin, who bagged 20 wickets against the Island nation, will be key to the home team's chances with opposition players like Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar acknowledging the in-form spinner's threat.
Mohali: Outwitted in both the T20 and the ODI cricket series, India will seek redemption in the Test format by trying to spin a web around the formidable South Africans in the four-match series starting here on Thursday.
India failed to make use of the home advantage in the limited-overs games while the South Africans displayed remarkable adaptability to emerge the better of the two teams so far.
In Thursday’s match, Virat Kohli's men would take the field without pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who is serving a one-match ban for his aggressive outbursts during the away series against Sri Lanka.
Therefore, India will be relying heavily on their spin brigade to out-manoeuvre the potent opposition batting, which has been sublime to say the least.
With Ravindra Jadeja back in the mix of things, Kohli will be looking to go with three spinners at the PCA track, hoping to pose a threat to the visitors. Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who missed the last four ODIs with a side strain he suffered in the opening game in Kanpur, seems to be fit and raring to go.
Having been India's strike bowler in the Test series win in Sri Lanka, Ashwin, who bagged 20 wickets against the Island nation, will be key to the home team's chances with opposition players like Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar acknowledging the in-form spinner's threat.
Team Director Ravi Shastri though has asserted that even Amit Mishra and Jadeja, who has been in stellar form in the current Ranji season, will be crucial to the home side's fortunes.
Playing for Saurashtra, Jadeja, whose last Test appearance was against England last year, has bagged 38 wickets in four games to win back the selectors' trust. His left-arm slow bowling, combined with Mishra's leg-spin and Ashwin's offies could turn out to be the much-needed winning formula for the hosts on what seems to be a track that will favour the home team's strength.
On the batting front, India will be spoilt for choices on with Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma fighting it out for the top-order slots.
Speaking highly of Dhawan and his 187 against Australia at the same venue in 2013, Shastri said, "Getting runs at a venue in your last Test match, nothing like it. But the biggest mistake people make is that they mix Test and ODI form. Test match form he comes back at the back of two Test hundreds, so he is very much in form, he is hot. That 187 against Australia will certainly be in his mind, competition for places, nothing like it. It goes to show everyone is on his toes, nobody will rest on his heels. If you miss out somebody else will grab the opportunity. It's healthy," he said.
South Africa, on the other hand, will be a tad worried about the form of Hashim Amla, who takes over as captain for the Test format.
In contrast, ODI captain AB de Villiers, termed ‘Superman’ by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, seems to be in the form his life and his wicket will certainly be a prized scalp for the Indian camp.
South Africa rode on three ODI hundreds from their skipper to clinch the five-match series 3-2, while they won the three-game T20 rubber by a 2-0 margin.
Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl and Faf du Plessis also add muscle to their batting while Temba Bavuma is expected to fill in the large shoes of Jean-Paul Duminy, who is still recovering from his hand injury picked during the third ODI.
The Proteas’ attack rests on the broad shoulders of speedster Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel while the spin force is led by the in-form Imran Tahir. Tahir is not unfamiliar with sub-continent tracks and after making an impression for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, he has become South Africa's trump card on a turning wicket.
When the Proteas last visited India for a Test series in 2009-10, the rubber stood drawn at 1-1, but South Africa did get the better of the hosts way back in 1999-2000. The last series played between the two sides was won by hosts South Africa by a 1-0 margin in 2013-14.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Lokesh Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron.
South Africa: Hashim Amla (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Temba Bavuma, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (wkt).
After losing out on the T20 and ODI series to South Africa, Team India is all set to redeem pride in the Test series starting in Mohali from November 5.
Mumbai: After losing out on the T20 and ODI series to South Africa, Team India is all set to redeem pride in the Test series starting in Mohali from November 5. Let’s recall some of the greatest moments on the pitch whenever these two teams met for the longer format.
Javagal Srinath –the swinger (Ahmedabad, 1996)
South Africa needed 170 runs to win the first Test at Motera. It was easy before Srinath’s fiery spell made it difficult. The right-arm paceman ran through the Proteas with dream figures of 11.5-4-21-6. India won by 64 runs. (Brief scores: IND 223 all out & 190 all out; SA 244 all out & 105 all out; Player of the Match: Javagal Srinath)
Mohammad Azharuddin – one man show (Kolkata, 1996)
When the whole team failed, Azharuddin delivered. Though India lost the Test match by 329 runs but the stylish right-hander stood out with a 77-ball 109 and 52 off 55 at the Eden Gardens. (Brief scores: SA 428 all out & 367/3, IND 329 all out & 137 all out; Player of the Match: Gary Kirsten)
Sachin Tendulkar plays captain’s knock (Cape Town, 1997)
Critics often said that Tendulkar’s batting went downhill after wearing the captain’s hat but the master was at his best during India’s tour of South Africa. Coming into bat in a situation when the scoreboard read 58/5, Tendulkar stitched a partnership of 222 runs with Azharuddin. India lost the match by 282 runs but the iconic 169 is etched in the fans’ minds. (Brief scores: SA 529/7 decl & 256/6 decl; IND 359 all out & 144 all out; Player of the Match: Brian McMillan)
Sreesanth’s five-for (Johannesburg, 2006)
The tainted pacer was at his peak when India toured South Africa in 2006. He rattled the Proteas batsmen and bundled the hosts for a paltry 84 in the first innings with a five-wicket haul. India won the match by 123 runs. (Brief scores: IND 249 all out & 236 all out; SA 84 all out & 278 all out; Player of the Match: S Sreesanth)
Dale Steyn threat (Ahmedabad, 2008)
The Indian batting line-up was relatively new to Steyn’s pace. After cleaning up Virender Sehwag and the strong defence of Rahul Dravid, there was no looking back. He finished with 5/23. South Africa won the match by an innings and 90 runs. (Brief scores: IND 76 all out & 328 all out; SA 494/7 decl; Player of the Match: Ab de Villiers)
South Africa’s ODI skipper AB de Villiers is regarded as one of the most destructive players in all three formats of the game. His presence itself at the crease is a nightmare for bowlers. With an average of 52.09 and 54.21 in Tests and ODIs respectively, de Villiers has impressed experts and former cricketers with his 360 degree style of play while clobbering the ball all round the park.
The recently concluded ODI series against hosts Team India saw 31-year-old de Villiers score three tons to help the Proteas outclass Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men.
With his lethal performances, de Villiers is slowly but surely inching towards Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar-like greatness and while it is too early to compare him to the ‘Little Master’, former South Africa bowler Petrus Stephanus de Villiers, aka Fanie de Villiers, believes AB will become even more popular than Sachin.
"Can I tell you something about AB de Villiers? AB is going to be more popular than Sachin Tendulkar in world cricket," Fanie was quoted as saying in a report in an Indian daily.
"That's the calibre of a person we are talking about; that's the cricketer we are talking about; that's the loveable, marketable player we are talking about. He is in the Sachin Tendulkar category. If you are in the Tendulkar category, when it comes to marketing the game of cricket, you are special," he reckoned.
Fanie also went on to say that de Villiers’ records are better than Sachin and the Protea is better than the Indian in ODIs.
"You can compare his records with Tendulkar; you feel this guy is even better than Tendulkar in ODIs. You can compare his popularity around the world and at home, he is in the category of Sachin Tendulkar. It's a privilege to be in that class or category on and off the field. He is very much the same as Tendulkar," he said.
"Who else do the Indian public cheer for as much as AB? Not many. AB is that sort of cricketer. He should have been Test and T20 captain as well. They (CSA) deprived AB of not captaining South Africa in all formats. ODI cricket is always difficult but I think you can truly rate the captain in Tests.
There are too many variables in ODI cricket. I know for the fact that players enjoy AB's company more than anybody else, players will support him more than anybody else. He is good enough to be a captain. He is the marketing icon of South African cricket and that is the captain. The captain is just judged on how good he is on-field, off the field, has marketing appeal and experience. He has got everything," Fanie signed off.
