South African Marco Jansen (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) South Africa’s dominant tour of India found its perfect symbol in Marc Jansen, who took home the Player of the Match award after a superb all-round performance that shaped a 408-run victory in Guwahati. The tall left-armer quickly produced a sensational 6 for 48 in the first innings before adding a vital 93 with the bat in South Africa’s impressive total of 489. His effort set the tone for a victory that completed the 20-run series and gave South Africa their first Test series win in India since 2000.Jansen said the win was extra special because it came. “Winning any match is a nice feeling and winning in India is special. It’s a team effort. We talked about sticking to our own stuff. If it works, it works,” he said after the match. He also thanked head coach Shukri Conrad for giving him confidence at a time when he was feeling nervous. “I have to admit to Shuks, he told me to go out and play my game, I was nervous in the first test,” he admitted.
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South Africa’s performance in the two tests was built on collective comprehensibility. Jansen said the team left nothing to chance in preparation. “Everyone is working hard, our preparation as a team and individually. We see where we can improve and we give our best on the field.”Jansen was part of a complete team effort that overwhelmed India from the start. Senuran Muthuswamy made his maiden Test hundred, Tristan Stubbs played two mature innings including a gutsy 94 in the second leg and Simon Harmer dominated with the ball to finish with 6 for 37 to win the Player of the Series award. The visitors posted 489 in the first innings and then bowled India out for 201 before opting not to force a follow-on game. Their second innings of 260 for 5 declared India a target of 549. India were bowled out for 140 on the final day, with Ravindra Jadeja’s fightback of 54 providing the only resistance.The victory marked many historical milestones. It was South Africa’s biggest victory over India by runs, India’s heaviest defeat in Test cricket and the first time in 25 years that the Proteas had won a Test series on Indian soil. It was also India’s second home flag under Gautam Gambhir after losing 0-3 to New Zealand last year.Jansen’s rise continues to be one of South Africa’s best stories. In Kolkata, he looked nervous, uncertain and still searching for a rhythm. In Guwahati, he looked like a complete force: tall, fast, confident and destructive. He walks away from the Test series with the biggest prize of all, having produced one of the most decisive match-winning performances by a South African in India.
