Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden test century and a dazzling, career-best 93 from Marco Jansen put South Africa in complete control of the second test against India as they piled up an imposing 489 all out shortly before the close of play on the second day of the second test at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday morning.
India reached 9 without loss by the close of play and face a daunting task to win the match and level the series after South Africa’s 30-run victory at Eden Gardens in Kolkata last week. It might become just as difficult to avoid defeat.
Left-hander Muthusamy resumed at the start of the day on 25 and reached 56 in the first session, taking his seventh wicket partnership with Kyle Verreynne to 88, with both players batting through the first two hours, displaying impeccable defensive technique and grinding down the Indian bowlers.
The Proteas wicketkeeper was stumped by Rishabh Pant for 45, charging down the wicket against Ravindra Jadeja at the start of the second session, having faced 122 balls and collecting five boundaries with late cuts against and punches through the off side.
But India’s troubles were just beginning with the arrival of Jansen, who hammered four straight sixes and three fours in reaching 51 from just 53 balls in the afternoon session while accompanying Muthusamy to a highly accomplished, disciplined, and match-changing century.
His 109 came from 209 balls with the second 50 coming from only 71 as he accelerated with 10 fours and two sixes, a slog sweep and a hook.
India were still ‘in the game’ with the visitors on 428 for seven after two sessions and Muthusamy’s top edge to fine leg at the start of the final session at 431 for eight, but Jansen continued to hit straight with brutal effect and only slowed down when within sight of a maiden century at any level in the company of last man, Keshav Maharaj.
But a tentative dab outside off stump against wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4-115) induced an inside edge onto his stumps, and he had to depart, his disappointment so evident that he did not even raise his bat to acknowledge the considerable applause. He struck six fours and seven sixes, the most by an overseas batsman in a test in India and faced only 91 deliveries for his 93.
MAGNIFICENT MUTHUSAMY
Muthusamy is no ordinary No 7, of course, having started his career as an opening batsman – this was his 10th century at first-class level. There were just two moments of alarm when he missed a sweep shot against Jadeja on 48 and was given out lbw. His review appeared to be based on the hope that he was outside the line of off stump, but replays showed that the ball had just touched his glove before hitting the pad.
Later, on 83, he top-edged a hook shot against the persevering Jasprit Bumrah (32-10-75-2), but Mohammad Siraj failed to sight the ball early enough at long leg, and the ball landed at his feet.
Just 69 runs were scored in the morning session, but the two hours used by the seventh wicket pair were as important as the runs, with the pitch almost certain to deteriorate rapidly on the final three days of the game, putting a massive premium on runs scored on the first two days.
Play began at 9:00am local time, with the 20-minute ‘tea’ break coming after the first session and the 40-minute lunch break after the second session to maximise the limited daylight in the east of the country at this time of year.
INDIA: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (captain/wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj.