Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has struck three early blows and spinner Ravindra Jadeja conjured a three-wicket over to put India two wickets from victory against South Africa in the opening Test at Visakhapatnam.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Chasing an improbable 395 for victory, the tourists were tottering on 8-117 at lunch on the fifth and final day after resuming at 1-11.
Jadeja picked up 4-51 while Shami almost rubbed out South Africa's hopes of a draw with 3-21, with opener Aiden Markram's 39 the top score for the touring side in the second innings.
After Rohit Sharma registered twin hundreds in his maiden match as a Test opener to set up India's push for victory, the hosts' bowlers put in a clinical performance in the second innings.
Ashwin, who took 31 wickets in four Tests to lead India to a 3-0 series win the last time South Africa toured India in 2015, provided the early breakthrough on Sunday when Theunis de Bruyn chopped on the offspinner to be out for 10.
With the spinners taking nine out of 10 wickets in the first innings on a turning pitch, Shami displayed what it takes for a fast bowler to succeed on such a surface.
He bowled fast and attacked the stumps and was rewarded with three bowled-out dismissals.
While the ball stayed a touch low to rattle Temba Bavuma's timber, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was out for 13 to a horror judgment when he left a Shami delivery that came in and hit the off-stump.
First-innings ceturion Quinton de Kock was out for a second ball duck when Shami breached his defence.
Jadeja then got in on the act and reaped benefits for his accuracy on a favourable surface.
He dismissed Markram with a stunning one-handed return catch and then Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj in the space of five deliveries to jolt South Africa.
Australian Associated Press
