NAGPUR: South Africa captain Hashim Amla called the Nagpur pitch “probably the toughest” he has played on after his team lost the third Test and series to India on Friday.

“These were probably the toughest three days of my Test career,” Amla said. “The surface was probably the toughest I have had as well, and the cricket itself was really difficult. So credit to India, they kind of bowled well, and unfortunately we ended up on the wrong side of this game.

“It was disappointing in the first innings, not to get a score closer to them,” Amla said “I would think chasing 200 would have been more apt. The quality of the Indian spinners was certainly exceptional in these conditions, and you’ve got to give it to them.”

It was the first away series loss in nine years for South Africa.

“It is very disappointing to lose a series, away from home, after nine years, and to be part of it, and I hope it doesn’t happen again for us,” Amla said.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015