SA in pole position after Muthusamy ton, Jansen 93

Senuran Muthusamy's maiden Test hundred and Marco Jansen's knock of 93 headlined South Africa's impressive lower order batting as the visitors posted 489 on Day 2 of the second Test in Guwahati. Starting the day at 247/6, South Africa rode on Muthusamy and Jansen's contrasting knocks, adding 243 runs for the last four wickets. In reply, India were 9/0 at Stumps.

India's discipline and South Africa's application traded blows on the second morning, with the latter emerging in front thanks to Muthusamy's fine knock and support from Kyle Verreynne. Run-scoring wasn't easy, leading to an attritional session. India kept things tight with a string of maidens, but Muthusamy and Verreynne ensured no breakthroughs in the first hour.

The second hour yielded 41 runs as the battle of patience continued. Muthusamy and Verreynne extended their partnership past 50 and took South Africa past 300. Muthusamy successfully reviewed an lbw decision off Ravindra Jadeja, with replays showing glove involved. He brought up a 121-ball fifty, and the pair went into Tea unbeaten with South Africa at 316/6.

India lost their second review early in the second session when Jasprit Bumrah appealed for a catch down the leg-side against Verreynne, but replays showed the ball hit the pad. Verreynne fell five short of a half-century, stumped off Jadeja, ending an 88-run partnership that lasted nearly 40 overs.

Marco Jansen and Muthusamy then attacked, hitting sixes off Jadeja and Washington Sundar to take South Africa past 350. Jansen cleared the fence multiple times after drinks, while Muthusamy had a close shave when a top-edge landed short of Mohammed Siraj. The pair raised a brisk half-century stand to take South Africa past 400.

Muthusamy raced to his century, hitting a six and a four off Kuldeep Yadav before reaching the milestone with a couple off Siraj. Jansen then reached his fifty. Only one wicket fell in the session as the pair extended their partnership to 94, taking South Africa to 428/7 at Lunch, with 112 runs coming in 26 overs.

The partnership ended on 97 when Siraj dismissed Muthusamy, caught at fine leg. Jansen accelerated, hitting two sixes in an over off Jadeja and more boundaries off Siraj to take South Africa past 450. Simon Harmer was bowled by Bumrah, and Jansen, supported by Keshav Maharaj, entered the 90s. However, he missed out on a hundred, inside-edging a Kuldeep delivery onto the stumps, ending a 27-run final wicket stand.

In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal flicked a four in the opening over, but Indian openers were circumspect, defending through fading light. Umpires called off play early due to poor light, with Jaiswal and KL Rahul unbeaten.

Brief scores: South Africa 489 (Senuran Muthusamy 109, Marco Jansen 93; Kuldeep Yadav 4-115, Jasprit Bumrah 2-75) lead India 9/0 by 480 runs.