Sensational Simon Harmer spins South Africa to 2-0 series sweep

South Africa sealed a historic series sweep over India, their first in the country in 25 years, as the hosts crashed to another forgettable batting performance on a worn fifth-day surface in Guwahati. India folded to a 408-run defeat, their heaviest home loss by runs, extending a baffling slide that now reads five defeats in their last seven home Tests after going 12 years and 18 series unbeaten.

As in Kolkata, Simon Harmer ran the final-day script. The offspinner scythed through India with 6 for 37—his first five-wicket haul in the country after falling one short on four previous attempts—vindicating South Africa's decision to bat deep on the fourth day even at the risk of losing time in the second innings. Only Ravindra Jadeja, who made 54, offered meaningful resistance in India's second innings; his dismissal, stumped off Keshav Maharaj and left lying stomach-down on the turf, summed up India's current state in the format.

Coming into the final day, only one team could realistically win. India needed 522—a chase effectively off the table—but their Manchester escape four months ago meant a final-day grind wasn't entirely out of the question.

But Harmer made sure it was. He struck early, removing nighthawk Kuldeep Yadav and Dhruv Jurel in the same over to reduce India to 42 for 4. Kuldeep was bowled through the gate, while Jurel pushed at one and edged to Aiden Markram at slip.

India's mindset was captured by Sai Sudharsan, who hunkered down to stonewall anything thrown at him. He lived a charmed life, first caught off a Marco Jansen no-ball, then spilled by Markram, but India's fate was effectively sealed when Harmer dismissed Rishabh Pant. The India captain pushed forward in defence against Harmer, only for the ball to kick up from the rough, hit the splice and loop gently to Markram.

After a three-wicket morning, the slide accelerated after Tea. Sudharsan, having battled through 139 balls, fell to his very first delivery of the session, edging Senuran Muthusamy to Markram, drawing the South African level with Ajinkya Rahane for most catches (8) in a Test match. He soon went past Rahane with another take off Washington Sundar, a wicket that gave Harmer his fifth wicket of the innings and 16th of the series. The offspinner added one more before signing off when Nitish Reddy gloved an attempted reverse sweep.

Maharaj closed out the innings with the final two wickets, and Player of the Match Marco Jansen fittingly put the finishing touch on South Africa's most emphatic achievement post their WTC win earlier this year with a sensational catch running back from mid-on.

Brief scores:
South Africa 489 & 260/5 decl. beat India 201 & 140 (Ravindra Jadeja 54; Simon Harmer 6-37) by 408 runs.