South Africa fails to save Test, as Ashwin claims five

R Ashwin continued his impressive display with the ball and claimed another five-for to help India trump South Africa by a massive 337-run margin in the fourth and final Test that ended in Delhi on Monday.

South Africa began the final day 409-runs adrift from India's total and captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers - who looked to defend a of majority deliveries on Sunday - adopted the same strategy on day five.

The duo - faced with a pitch that offered spin - looked to guide their side home to a draw as opposed to their first win of the Test series. However, the tourists received their first setback in the 86th over, when Ravindra Jadeja spun one, past Amla's bat, on to the stumps. Amla departed after he played 244 balls for just 25 runs.

Amla's dismissal didn't affect South Africa's strategy, as Faf du Plessis and de Villiers continued to defend a bulk of deliveries, through to the lunch session. At that stage, de Villiers had scored 26 runs off 203 balls and his partner just two from 61 balls.

Twelve overs into the post-lunch session, Jadeja got one to slid on with the arm and trap du Plessis lbw. His 97-ball stay at the crease helped his side stretch the game further. The dismissal however put added pressure on de Villiers who was running out of partners.

Ashwin, who went wicket less for over two sessions of the day, then dismissed JP Duminy without scoring. When South Africa went into tea they stood at 136 for five; and they looked to de Villiers and Dane Villas to take them through to the end.

However, Umesh Yadav bowled Villas with an inswinging delivery, shortly after tea. Ashwin then, like he has done through the series, provided the killer blow, and got one to bounce and spin sharply to de Villiers, who ended up fending it to leg slip.

De Villiers' 297-ball vigil ended and with it ended any hope of South Africa saving the Test. The tail managed to add just seven runs before it folded at 143. Ashwin claimed the Man-of-the-Series award for his efforts.

"I think it is a great feeling, a fitting finale to a wonderful series, we were going for it, we fought really hard, they dug in really deep ... generally all these black soil wickets .. there's not much bounce .., massive support from Jadeja, he hits the stumps so often, amazing support from me, and let's not forget Umesh," he said.