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CENTURION. — The Indian resistance, if you can call it that, barely lasted a session on the final day of the second Test cricket against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion yesterday.

The home team took an unassailable 2-0 lead, comfortably winning by 135 runs. Lungi Ngidi bagged six wickets, a richly deserved haul for an exceptionally promising young fast bowler.

The bizarre nature of India’s response to testing conditions was perfectly summarised by Cheteshwar Pujara, who managed to get run out for the second time in the test, when so much depended on him. The slowest runner in the Indian team took on the arm of the one of the fastest men in cricket history, AB de Villiers, and there was always going to be only one result.

The throw from the deep came in perfectly over the stumps, the bails were whipped off and Pujara was gone for 19, India slumping to 49 for 4. Parthiv Patel’s vigil, shielding Rohit Sharma from South Africa’s bowlers on the fourth day, did not last too long on the fifth. Parthiv took on Kagiso Rabada, hooking well, but his placement wasn’t the best. Morne Morkel, running around in the deep, put in the dive and held onto a stunning catch.

Hardik Pandya, desperate to show intent, played at more balls than he should have and when he reached for a wide one outside off against Lungi Ngidi, he could only edge to the keeper. — AFP.