Guwahati, Nov 23 (UNI) South Africa’s lower order produced a stirring fightback on Day 2 of the second Test, carrying the visitors to 489 all out in 151.1 overs before India reached 9 for no loss at stumps in 6.1 overs.
Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test hundred and Marco Jansen’s thrilling 93 were the centrepieces of a remarkable recovery that frustrated India throughout the day.
South Africa went into lunch strongly placed at 428 for 7 in 137 overs, with Muthusamy unbeaten on 107 and Jansen on 51. Their eighth-wicket partnership had already transformed the innings, and the momentum carried forward into the evening session.
The visitors crossed 450 in 140.4 overs, aided by clean hitting from Jansen, who continued to dispatch India’s short bowling.
He launched Mohammed Siraj high over mid-wicket in the 140th over, followed by another boundary off the next ball. Jasprit Bumrah was driven through long-off as Jansen moved swiftly into the 80s.
The stand was finally broken in the 138th over when Muthusamy, on 109 off 206 balls, top-edged a pull off Siraj to fine leg, departing to warm applause after South Africa’s best innings of the series.
India claimed the next wicket when Simon Harmer was bowled by Bumrah for 5 in the 143rd over. But Jansen kept attacking, launching Jadeja for three towering sixes in the 139th over and then pulling Siraj again in the 140th, continuing his counterattack even as partners fell around him.
By the drinks break, South Africa were 483 for 9 in 149 overs, with Jansen moving into the 90s and Keshav Maharaj on 8.
Jansen looked destined for a maiden first-class hundred, but heartbreak followed. In the 151st over, a googly from Kuldeep Yadav spun away, catching Jansen’s inside edge before crashing into the stumps. He fell for 93 off 91 balls, with six fours and seven sixes — a brilliant innings that ended abruptly and painfully for the left-hander.
South Africa were bowled out shortly after for 489 in 151.1 overs, Maharaj unbeaten on 12.
India then faced a short but steady examination before stumps, closing at 9 for no loss in 6.1 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal flicked Jansen for four off just the second ball of the innings and remained unbeaten on 7, with KL Rahul on 2 at the close.
With South Africa posting a formidable total and India beginning cautiously, the contest is finely set heading into Day 3.
