South Africa took control of the second Test of the two-match series in Guwahati. At the end of play on Day 2, India were 9/0, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul at the crease. Earlier, Senuran Muthusamy scored his maiden Test century, and Marco Jansen added a career-best 93, pushing South Africa’s total to 489. Kuldeep Yadav (4/115) was the standout bowler for India, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.

South Africa Steadies After Overnight Pressure

At the start of the second day, 489 seemed unreachable. Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne steadied the innings from the overnight 247 for 6. Had South Africa continued at the same scoring rate, they would have barely crossed 400 in their 151.1 overs. However, Jansen’s aggressive 93 off 91 balls, which included a record seven sixes against India in India, swung momentum in South Africa’s favor.

Muthusamy and Jansen also stitched together the series’ highest partnership: 97 runs in just 17.4 overs. Muthusamy became South Africa’s ninth centurion of the year, while Jansen fell just short of matching the world record of ten different centurions in a single year.

India Struggles Against Patient Batting

Even before Jansen’s flourish, Muthusamy and Verreynne had frustrated India’s bowlers. The pitch, flat after morning moisture dried, allowed South Africa to defend their wickets comfortably. Wickets fell mostly when batters tried to force the pace. On day two, with six wickets down, South Africa seemed focused on denying India the ball rather than scoring aggressively.

India struggled to create opportunities for nearly 40 overs on the second morning. A faint edge on UltraEdge reversed an initial lbw decision against Muthusamy. The batter displayed remarkable control, playing only 13 false shots in 205 balls. Eventually, Verreynne’s early charge against Jadeja allowed India a breakthrough. Yet, by mid-afternoon, South Africa had reached 334 for 7, keeping hopes alive for a draw.

Jansen Dominates With Aggressive Shots

Jansen came in and immediately hit a no-look six off Jadeja, followed by a four and another six. India tried Kuldeep Yadav, but Jansen stepped out and lofted the bowler over long-on. Muthusamy also began attacking, especially with slog-sweeps. He scored 67 off 160 before Verreynne’s dismissal and then added 43 off 47 balls. India’s bowlers grew increasingly frustrated.

Siraj eventually trapped Muthusamy with a top-edge to end his innings, but Jansen continued his dominance, pulling and hooking effectively. The pitch remained batter-friendly, forcing Rishabh Pant to use both fast bowlers in tandem. Bumrah managed to hit the top of Simon Harmer’s off-stump, but wickets remained hard to come by.

Last-Wicket Resistance Extends South Africa’s Lead

Jansen and Keshav Maharaj added 27 runs for the final wicket. Jansen’s reach and aggressive mindset caused problems for India’s bowlers, although he fell just short of a century, chopping on to a Kuldeep wrong’un. Kuldeep ended with four wickets, while Jadeja, Bumrah, and Siraj claimed two each. India bowled 150 overs, a rare feat only seen four times since 2016, reflecting the challenge of keeping batters in check on this flat Guwahati pitch.

Brief Scorecard