Proteas dominate Day Two as Senuran Muthusamy hits maiden Test century against India in Guwahati

SOUTH Africa’s lower order transformed the second day of the Test against India in Guwahati into a commanding statement, with Senuran Muthusamy leading the way through a patient, composed and ultimately career-defining maiden Test century.

Coming in at number seven, Muthusamy started the morning alongside Kyle Verreynne as the pair resumed their partnership with South Africa already in a solid position. They progressed through an entire wicketless session, forcing India into long, unrewarded spells and steadily building pressure. 

Their partnership looked increasingly settled until Ravindra Jadeja finally broke through by drawing Verreynne from his crease for a sharp stumping that ended a determined stand.

Muthusamy, however, remained steady. He kept rotating the strike, absorbed long passages of tight bowling and worked India’s attack around the field. When he reached three figures, driving a Mohammed Siraj delivery through the backward-point region, he broke into a wide smile as teammates – including 12th man Kagiso Rabada – celebrated the moment. 

Speaking afterwards, he said: “It was a really special moment in front of this full house. I'm just glad that I could contribute to the team and really put some runs on the board in the first innings, which is always important. It (plan) was just to build partnerships and to really try and extend the innings and then score runs in between.”

Marco Jansen kicks on

India briefly regained composure with the removal of Verreynne, but Marco Jansen’s arrival changed the tone immediately. Jansen counter-punched from the outset, targeting India’s spinners and then the seamers when Rishabh Pant turned to pace for relief. 

Even Jasprit Bumrah was unable to halt the momentum as Jansen struck fearlessly down the ground and repeatedly cleared the ropes.

His ball-striking lifted the tempo of the innings and shifted South Africa from strong to dominant. Jansen eventually fell for 93 off 91 balls, striking six fours and seven sixes and missing out on a maiden Test century by just seven runs. 

Muthusamy says he enjoyed watching the fireworks up close, as he remarked: “Oh, it was incredible. I had the best seat in the house. That was special. Special ball striking. It was fantastic from him. It was awesome.”

The pair added 97 for the eighth wicket and took South Africa to 489 all out. Kuldeep Yadav was India’s most successful bowler, finishing with 4/115.

A moment of concern

There was also a brief moment of concern during Muthusamy’s innings when he was given out LBW, only for a successful review to overturn the decision. 

Describing the incident, he said: “Around the noise and the emotion, I was just really disappointed. And when I was standing with Scholesy (Kyle Verreynne), I said, ‘You know, it might’ve just brushed my glove, I think I might be OK.’ 

“And then when it came up on the DRS, it was fantastic that there was a little scratch on it. I did kind of feel something, but I think just with the emotion and the disappointment of being given out, it didn't register straightaway until a little bit later.”

India ended the day on 9/0, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 2 and Yashasvi Jaiswal on 7 after navigating tidy opening spells from Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. South Africa hold a first-innings lead of 480 that gives them a strong platform heading into Day Three, though Muthusamy was cautious when asked about how conditions might develop. 

“Let's wait and see how it unfolds,” he said.

The Proteas lead the two-match series 1-0 and remain in control of the contest after two days of disciplined batting, smart strike rotation and a decisive late-order surge that has once again placed India under early pressure.