Senuran Muthusamy's joins elite SA spinners table after 11-wicket match haul in Lahore

Senuran Muthusamy’s brilliant performance in the first Test against Pakistan in Lahore saw the left-arm spinner join an elite list of South African spin bowlers.

Muthusamy became just the fourth South African spinner to claim 10 wickets or more in a match with his analysis of 11/174. 

The 31-year-old followed up his first innings 6/117 with another 5/57 to keep the Proteas’ hopes alive in the series opener. 

Here is the full list of South African spinners to claim 10 wickets or more wickets in a Test. 

1. Hugh Tayfield: 13/165 vs Australia, Melbourne 1952

The prolific off-spinner is only one to achieve it on two occasions. The first was against the Aussies in Melbourne, when he bagged 6/84 & 7/81. It was hugely influential on the result with South Africa winning by 82 runs - their first victory over Australia for 42 years.

2. Hugh Tayfield: 13/192 vs England, Johannesburg 1957

A repeat act at the Wanderers five years later. Tayfield followed up his 4/79 in the first innings with the best figures in the history of South African Test cricket with a miraculous 9/119 to bowl his team to a 117-run victory. It was also South Africa’s first victory over England on home soil for 26 years.

3. Keshav Maharaj: 12/283 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 2018

South Africa's most prolific spinner of all time etched his name into the record books in Colombo seven years ago. Playing as the sole specialist spinner, Maharaj came close to emulating Tayfield’s achievement when he snared 9/129 in the first innings and toiled away in the second for a further 3/154. It could not, though, prevent the Proteas falling to a 199-run defeat to Sri Lanka.

4. Senuran Muthusamy: 11/174 vs Pakistan, Lahore, 2025

In the absence of the injured Maharaj, Muthusamy took centre-stage with this excellent performance. After claiming his maiden Test five-for in the first innings, he followed it up with another “Michelle” in the second. 

5. Paul Adams: 10/106 vs Bangladesh, Chattogram 2003

The youngest spin bowler to play for South Africa produced a match-winner against the Tigers. Two five-wicket hauls (5/37 & 5/69) in both innings after Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar enjoyed a record partnership with the bat, Adams did the business with the Proteas coasting home by an innings and 60 runs.