(Reuters) -Senuran Muthusamy crafted a patient 56 not out to frustrate India and guide South Africa to a strong 316 for six at tea on day two of the second and final test in Guwahati on Sunday.
The spin-bowling all-rounder dashed India’s hopes of quickly polishing off the South African tail with a 70-run stand with Kyle Verreynne, who was batting on 38 at the break.
India’s spin-heavy attack had to work hard to remove the top of the South African batting line-up on a slow-moving opening day in the first ever test at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
They might have expected life to be easier against the lower middle order but that was not to be the case as Muthusamy played with the confidence of a frontline batter and Verreynne overcame early jitters in a wicketless session for the Indian bowlers.
The closest India came to break the stand was when Muthusamy, then on 48, was given lbw to spinner Ravindra Jadeja after attempting a sweep shot.
The batter immediately reviewed the decision, which was overturned after replays suggested the ball had faintly touched the glove before hitting the pad.
Muthusamy went on to bring up his third test fifty with a single off Jadeja.
South Africa are 1-0 ahead in the two-test series.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)
