India let South Africa off the hook on Day 2 of second Test

India bowlers put up an insipid performance to let South Africa reach 489 in their first innings on Day 2 in Guwahati after the visitors were reeling at 247/6 at the end of Day 1.

When the second day’s play began, India would have hoped to rid of the Proteas inside 300. But to their horror, the left-handed Senuran Muthusamy who is known more as a spin bowler scored a flawless century (109 off 206 balls). It was his maiden century in Test cricket and he bettered his previous high score of 89 not out against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.

Muthusamy added 88 with Kyle Verreynne (45 off 122 balls). The partnership with Verreynne that spanned into three sessions, including the whole of first session on Day 2. It frustrated the Indians for close to 40 overs and negated the new ball entirely.

Even Jasprit Bumrah looked clueless.

After Verreynne was dismissed following his dogged innings, Muthusamy stepped on the gas in the company of Marco Jansen.

The duo put on 97 in under 18 overs.

While the Proteas top order had wasted starts, both Muthusamy and Jansen ensured they didn’t.

Jansen was dismissed for 93 (91 balls, 6x4s, 7x6s) after clobbering the Indian bowlers for sixes.

His blitzkrieg hampered the lines and lengths of the spinners in particular.

Sunday’s display proved once again that India have a lack of depth in spin bowling and on a flat batting-friendly pitch, even the regular, frontline spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav came unstuck.

Washington Sundar was the most economical bowler but his 26 overs did not yield a single wicket.

Yadav took 4/115 while Jadeja returned with 2/94. Mohammed Siraj took 2/106 while Jasprit Bumrah ended with 2/75.

All in all, the Indian bowling looked in disarray and had the Proteas not wasted a couple of wickets like of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder on Day 1, India may have been buried under a mountain of 600 runs.

Tags : Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Guwahati, South Africa, Jasprit Bumrah