Faf du Plessis had sights on extraordinary Test win for South Africa over India

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Set 458 to win against India, both du Plessis and AB de Villiers scored brilliant centuries to give the Proteas hope of pulling off the remarkable feat.

When they got within range, du Plessis indicated the final 10 overs would be used to try and reach the mammoth target, but the chase faltered when wickets fell as the South Africans fell eight runs short.

"I was batting out in the middle and it was only really when AB and myself started getting some momentum (that victory was possible)," du Plessis said.

"We started getting four runs an over quite regularly and then run rate just stayed at four and a half.

"Then our plan was to bat until the last 10 overs of the game and then from there we would try and get anything."

Du Plessis was eventually run out on 134, and he said that by the end it was more important to preserve wickets than risk losing.

"AB went out at quite a crucial stage then, for me I just said I am going to bat the innings through here, he said.

"Obviously the position we got to we would have liked to have won the game and be part of the best Test match ever, but I am really satisfied with the result."

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Kieran Francis is a senior editor at Sporting News Australia.