'Bloody proud' Proteas make history with first Test series victory in India in 25 years

All Test series triumphs on foreign soil are to be cherished for their rarity value alone, but the Proteas 2-0 clean sweep of India completed on the fifth and final day of the series here in Guwahati will be etched into the history books as one of the finest.

The margin of the second Test win - by 408 runs - rubberstamped the Proteas dominance. And it was best illustrated by the miraculous catch by Marco Jansen, who ran back 40 metres before throwing out his left hand to hold to a screamer to dismiss last man Mohammed Siraj.

The Proteas have been dominant in all facets in this series. The Proteas spinners, in particular Simon Harmer, out bowled their more famed Indian counterparts.

Harmer claimed 6/37, including four on the final day, to put the skids under India as they capitulated to 140 all out. 

The off-spinner, who was named Player of the Match in the first Test in Eden Gardens, went even one better in Guwahati to finish with a nine-wicket haul and an incredible 17 wickets in the series.

The pacers were equally excellent, and that was without the services of their talisman Kagiso Rabada, who missed the entire series due to a rib injury. Jansen stepped up to fill the breach in the second Test, finishing with seven wickets in the Test to go along with his first innings 93.

Even the Proteas' catching was on another level with Aiden Markram pouching a world record nine catches during the second Test.

There may have been conjecture when the Proteas won the World Test Championship final, but they are now the undisputed world champions after securing a first series victory in India for 25 years.

"It's a great feeling, great effort from everyone. It's not easy talk coming to India, in tough conditions that are foreign to us. As a group you've got to believe you can complete against the best in their backyard, with few moments of good luck along the way and bloody proud of the team," said Markram.

"As a unit we've been pretty good to find ways to adjust to the conditions [in south Asia, winning in Rawalpindi]. A lot of chat about spin, quality seamers with the new ball. It's a big test of character coming here and winning."

SCOREBOARD

Second Test, Day 5

South Africa 489 all out & 260/5

India: 201 all out & 140 all out (Jadeja 54, Harmer 6/37)

South Africa won by 408 runs