Senuran Muthusamy slams maiden Test century against India, becomes 3rd South Africa batter to achieve rare feat

South Africa spinner Senuran Muthusamy slammed his maiden Test century to deflate India on Day 2 of the Guwahati Test on Sunday, November 23. Featuring in his eighth Test for the Proteas, Muthusamy displayed remarkable composure in the middle to grind out a well-deserved century. The 31-year-old looked equally assured against the Indian pacers and the spinners as he battled his way to an unbeaten 107 at Lunch on Day 2.

The Indian-origin spinner completed his hundred off 192 balls, bettering his previous highest individual Test score of 89 runs, which came against Pakistan earlier this year. He resumed South Africa's first innings on 246/6 on Day 2 and combined with Kyle Verreynne to share a brilliant 88-run stand for the seventh wicket.

The duo adapted a cautious approach against the Indian pacers at the start of the morning session on Day 2 and grew into confidence as the game progressed. Muthusamy completed his half-century off 121 balls before Tea to guide South Africa to 316/6 at Tea.

Verreynne missed out on his half-century as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him on 45 to provide India with a crucial breakthrough, breaking the partnership between hum and Muthusamy. However, Muthusamy joined hands with Marco Jansen to continue his resistance on one end.

While the spinner toiled his way to his maiden Test ton, Jansen took the aggressive route and launched a scathing attack against the Indian bowlers. The pace all-rounder slammed a blistering half-century and remained unbeaten on 51 off 57 balls as the duo guided South Africa to 428/7 at Lunch with an unbeaten 96-run stand for the 8th wicket.

Muthusamy achieved a rare feat after smashing his maiden Test ton as he became only the third South Africa batter to register a Test century while batting at no.7 or lower against India. Quinton de Kock and Lance Klusener are the only other two South African players to have smashed a ton while batting at no.7 or lower in a Test match against India.

De Kock slammed a 111-run knock against India in a Test match in Vizag in 2019, while Klusener did it with his unbeaten 102-run knock in the Cape Town Test against India in 1997. Muthusamy finished with a stellar knock of 109 runs as he was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj, who broke the 97-run stand between him and Jansen for the 8th wicket.

His 109-run knock against India in Guwahati is now Muthusamy's highest individual score in Test cricket. He had scored only 279 runs in 7 Test matches before his ton against India on Sunday.