Proteas on the brink of historic Test series win after grinding down India in Guwahati

Already armed with a lead of 288 on the first innings, the visitors piled on 260-5 in the second innings before declaring to set India a mammoth target of 549.

Tristan Stubbs struck 94 while Tony de Zorzi hit 49 as the Proteas opted to grind the hosts into the ground and not give them any sniff of leveling the series.

A demoralised home side then limped their way to 27-2 at the close of play, still requiring a 522 runs on the final day for an unlikely victory.

Resuming the fourth morning on 26 without loss, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram extended their partnership 59 before the former was dismissed by spinner Ravindra Jadeja for 35.

It became 74-2 when Jadeja bowled Markram with a beautiful delivery that turned past the bat, sending the opener back to the dressing room for 29.

Temba Bavuma did not last long as Washington Sundar sent the Proteas skipper packing for just three.

Stubbs and De Zorzi then took the tourists to the the tea interval on 107-3, with the lead already at 395 runs at that stage.

De Zorzi, especially, was the more positive of the duo as the left-handed batter struck four fours and a six but was out lbw one short of his fifty to bring an end to the 101-run partnership.

Wiaan Mulder and Stubbs then took the Proteas to the lunch break on 220-4 with Stubbs reaching his half-century in the session.

The Proteas continued batting into the final session with Stubbs upping his tempo in the hopes of getting to a century.

The 25-year-old though was six runs short of the milestone when he was bowled by Jadeja going for a big shot that eventually brought the declaration with about 40 minutes of the day still remaining and India needing an unlikely target 549.

Marco Jansen then removed Yashasvi Jaiswal, caught behind, before Simon Harmer clean bowled KL Rahul with a near-perfect ball that turned into the right-hander from the rough.