Marco Jansen and Senuran Muthusamy bought the fireworks to Guwahati, with grit and power to post a formidable total of 489 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test against India. Resuming after tea, the Proteas added 173 runs to their total before being bowled out in the 152nd over. Muthusamy scored a historic maiden Test century while Marco Jansen fell just short of his own three-figure milestone.
Muthusamy, who reached his century in the second session, was eventually dismissed for a well-compiled 109. His dismissal triggered a brief collapse, but Marco Jansen continued to attack the Indian bowlers. The tall left-hander struck powerful blows, including two sixes off Ravindra Jadeja, as he raced towards his maiden Test hundred.
However, his innings ended on 93 when Kuldeep Yadav cleaned him up with a googly, bringing the South African innings to a close. Keshav Maharaj remained unbeaten on 4, having struck a boundary off Kuldeep in the final stages.
The Indian bowlers shared the spoils in the afternoon session, with Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav claiming a wicket each. Siraj ended the stubborn partnership by dismissing Muthusamy with a short ball, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at fine leg.
Bumrah then removed Simon Harmer with a seaming delivery that crashed into the stumps, before Kuldeep wrapped up the tail. And Ravindra Jadeja, who had provided the first breakthrough of the day by stumpimg Kyle Verreynne.
Earlier in the day, Muthusamy and Verreynne had frustrated the hosts with a century stand, taking the score past 300. The lower-order ensured the momentum carries on, and succesfully put South Africa in a commanding position, forcing India’s batting lineup to respond under pressure on a pitch that is beginning to offer turn and variable bounce.
With a substantial total on the board, the onus now shifts to the Indian openers to navigate the tricky final session. The hosts trail by 480 runs, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul navigated the final session of the day and will need to maintain this start to stay in the contest as the match progresses into Day 3.
