South Africa vs India 2018, 3rd Test, Day 4 - 5 things we learnt from the day

Grilled, bruised and battered, Dean Elgar remained unbeaten at one end as India ran through South Africa's batting line-up post tea on day 4 to register their first win in the series. Amidst all the pitch controversy, Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar made batting look very easy on a track slightly better owing to overnight rains and a heavy roller.

The duo put on a 119 run partnership that seemed to be leading South Africa to a whitewash but India had other ideas. Once they broke the pair, wickets came in heaps and before you knew it, poor Dean Elgar was stuck with the tail. They were bowled out for 177, losing their last nine wickets for a meagre 53 runs.

#5 Dean Elgar copes blows, brings out his fight

Elgar was hit on the head by a bouncer on Day 3

Dean Elgar is a steely character. When Graeme Smith retired, South Africa needed an opener who could douse the fire at the top and Elgar seemed like a perfect fit. He was ugly in technique and more often than not appeared a sitting duck. But to dismiss him bowlers had to toil hard. Plus, he made the tough runs when it was needed of him.

On Saturday, he stuck to his guns, bore more blows on his body and fought. He and Amla not only put out the fire but also took the fight to the Indians, threatening to chase down a humongous target on a tricky wicket. Once his partner, Amla, departed, Elgar ran out of colleagues and carried his bat through the innings.

#4 Hashim Amla's calm approach bails South Africa out

When he gets going, there are few bowlers who can stop him

Hashim Amla stood tall and countered the Indian seamers with his shuffling across the stumps much like he had done in the first innings. But this was a composed knock of the highest quality on a treacherous pitch where the cracks had opened up. He left well, defended better and importantly made the runs.

Alongside Dean Elgar, Amla put fear in the Indian camp. Anything thrown at these two was countered brilliantly and the target which had seemed aeons away suddenly appeared closer. Amla employed his renewed trigger movement to put the seamers in two minds and in no time raced to his second half-century of the game before gifting his wicket with an aerial flick.

#3 With AB de Villiers goes South Africa's hopes

AB de Villiers didn't last long in the second innings either

With movement off the deck crucial, Jasprit Bumrah set him up with a few that nipped away. Finally, the fast bowler managed to hit the right length in this pitch and the ball bounced a touch extra and seamed away to catch de Villiers' edge en route the gully fielder.

#2 Mohammad Shami and Co. rip through middle-order

Shami turned the screws with his second innings antics

India's quartet of pace bowlers stormed into the game post tea and wrecked the back of South Africa's batting line-up with a sensational display of fast bowling. All of them took time to get accustomed to the demands of the wicket but once they did, the game was always swaying India's way.

Bumrah sent back AB de Villiers while Mohammad Shami, with his tails up, removed Philander and Phehlukwayo in the same over. In between, Ishant Sharma had accounted for Faf du Plessis courtesy low bounce while de Kock fell to a first ball duck off Bumrah.

#1 India register epic win and maintain Wanderers record

India raced to a brilliant win late on Day 4

Spurred on by a superb all-round performance in the second innings, India nailed home a consolation win which could prove to be a critical confidence-factor for their long overseas season. The quartet of seamers were exemplary late in the day and tore through the South African batting line-up.

Earlier in the Test, their batsmen had stood stoic and resolved against South Africa's relentless seamers and that proved to be the ultimate difference in this Test. With this win, India continued their flawless record at Wanderers, the most intimidating of South Africa's grounds.