South Africa clinch series against India in Kallis’ last Test

South Africa took five wickets before lunch Monday to rapidly reduce India to 173-7 in the second test and close in on a series victory in Jacques Kallis’ final match.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers, left, Dale Steyn and JP Duminy, right, appeal successfully for the wicket of India’s Virat Kholi on Day 5 of the second Test in Durban on Monday. Rogan Ward / Reuters

Jacques Kallis finished a winner in his final Test as South Africa beat India by 10 wickets to take the best-of-two series 1-0 in Durban.

Kallis also marked his final Test appearance for South Africa with a century as the world’s No 1 side claimed a dominant win after the first Test in Johannesburg ended in a draw.

Alviro Pietersen and captain Graeme Smith were the unbeaten batsman as the home side wrapped up the win in the final session of Day 5 after claiming the eight wickets they needed to set up the victory push.

Pietersen was unbeaten on 31 and Smith made 27 as the home side made 59 without loss to celebrate Kallis’ retirement in style.

Kallis had announced on Christmas day that the match with India would be his final one and responded with a century as the hosts hit 500 in reply to India’s 334.

A fine morning with the ball set up South Africa’s victory charge and, when the tourists were dismissed for 223 in the afternoon session, it left South Africa in sight of victory.

India had started the day on 68 for two, but lost Virat Kohli to the first ball.

Kohli was adjudged to have got a faint contact to Dale Steyn’s delivery and AB de Villiers claimed the catch to dismiss the batsman for 11.

India had added just three runs to the total when Steyn struck again, this time removing Cheteshwar Pujara who had failed to add to his overnight score of 32.

Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane put on 33 for the fifth wicket before the former was trapped lbw by Vernon Philander for 25.

Robin Peterson took the valuable wicket of captain MS Dhoni when he was caught and bowled for 15 with the total on 146, leaving India in a precarious position.

Things got worse for the tourists as they also lost Ravindra Jadeja for eight with 154 on the scoreboard.

Rahane remained their only real hope of saving the Test as he was unbeaten on 50 at the lunch interval.

Zaheer Khan was not out two as India looked to keep the series level.

They put on 35 before Zaheer was trapped lbw by Peterson for three and Ishant Sharma (1) fell to the Steyn and De Villiers partnership.

Rahane was last man out for 96 with the India total on 223, Peterson finished with four for 74 and Steyn and Vernon Philander taking three each.

India’s dismissal left South Africa needing 58 to win and they had scored 19 without loss by tea.

Pietersen and Smith finished the job early in the final session with a flurry of boundaries to complete a dominant performance.