A maiden Test hundred from Senuran Muthusamy, backed by a career-best 93 from Marco Jansen, powered South Africa to the brink of putting India out of contention in the Guwahati Test and potentially the two-match series. Their imposing total of 489 carries historical weight as no team has ever lost a Test in India after posting such a score even as the Indian openers put up a brave fight to finish 9/0 in the six overs possible before close of play on Day 2.
It turned out to be a testing day on the field for the home side, as Muthusamy showcased his batting masterclass in front of a sizeable Sunday crowd at the Barsapara Stadium, to power the Proteas to a wicketless first session that produced 69 runs from 26 overs. Resuming the day at 247/6, Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne hardly looked troubled by both the quicks and the spinners on a track that turned placid as the day progressed.
India tried everything but Muthusamy had his share of luck as well when an outside edge off Bumrah fell just short of KL Rahul, and an invisible murmur on ball tracking gave him a life when he was given out lbw off Ravindra Jadeja. Post tea, South Africa thrash 112 runs in 26 overs despite losing Verreynne. With the explosive Marco Jansen in ominous batting touch, Muthusamy, at the other end, was happy to take his time and deflate a tiring India attack as the partnership soon flourished to 94 off 99 balls.
The post-lunch session began with Mohammed Siraj providing India the breakthrough they desperately needed when Muthusamy attempted for a hook, but failed to keep it down and was caught at fine leg, ending his career-best knock of 109 that had blunted India since he came out to bat at 201/5.
But even with the spinners coming into play in the later half, a masterclass from Jansen kept the fans silent. Jansen launched two towering sixes off Jadeja and took a four and a six off Siraj to push South Africa past 440, before Jasprit Bumrah ripped out Simon Harmer’s off-stump. Jansen continued to find boundaries and also featured in a defiant last wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj for 18 runs.
Jansen fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test hundred, chopping on to a Kuldeep googly for 93. But his innings included seven sixes for the joint‑highest tally in a knock for a lower‑order batter in India. If the Proteas manage to preserve that record, they will hand India a second home-series defeat in 12 months, a staggering turnaround for a side that had gone 12 years without losing one.
In reply, India’s openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured there were no setbacks and reached 9/0 in 6.1 overs before the deteriorating light conditions brought an end to the day’s action. India’s innings began with Rahul and Jaiswal negotiating the new ball with composure. The hosts got their first boundary when Marco Jansen bowled down leg and Jaiswal flicked him through square leg.
With Jansen and Wiaan Mulder being economical, India managed to be watchful till stumps arrived. With three days left in the game, pressure will be huge on India to level the series and save themselves from a second series loss at home in two years.
Brief Scores: South Africa 489 in 151.1 overs (Senuran Muthusamy 109, Marco Jansen 93; Kuldeep Yadav 4-115, Jasprit Bumrah 2-75) lead India 9/0 in 6.1 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 7 not out, KL Rahul 2 not out) by 480 runs.