By Razeen Gutta
The Proteas piled on 489 runs in a commanding opening two days of the second test match against India on Saturday and Sunday.
Senuran Muthusamy anchored the innings with a maiden Test century (109 off 209 balls), while Marco Jansen blazed to a career-best of 93 off just 91 deliveries, lashing seven sixes and six fours.
“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,” Muthusamy said at the close of play.
“The plan was just to build partnerships and to really try and extend the innings and then score runs in between.”
The left-handed pair built a grinding 88-run stand, wearing down India’s bowlers before Jansen erupted in the afternoon, hitting four straight sixes.
After Muthusamy fell at 431/8, Jansen kept hammering till he was dismissed, just seven short of a century.
India’s hopes looked dim as even the likes of Kuldeep Yadav (4-115) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-75) struggled to contain the Proteas.
At stumps on day two, India were 9/0. With the pitch set to worsen, the hosts face another mountainous task after South Africa’s 30-run win in the opening match in Kolkata.
Pictured above: Proteas
Source: @proteasmencsa
