India is facing a formidable challenge as they strive to avert a second consecutive home Test series defeat against South Africa. The second Test in Guwahati has seen South Africa establish a commanding position, scoring 489 runs by the end of day two.
Key Performers for South Africa
Senuran Muthusamy emerged as a standout performer, notching his first Test century with a score of 109 off 206 deliveries. His partnership with Verreynne contributed significantly, combining for 88 runs. Furthermore, Muthusamy teamed up with Marco Jansen for a remarkable 97-run stand, where Jansen scored a career-best 93 runs from just 91 balls, including an impressive tally of seven sixes.
Historical Context
No team in Test history has managed to score as many runs in the first innings in India and later lost the match. This statistic could weigh heavily on India’s current predicament.
India’s Struggles in the Series
- Currently trailing South Africa 1-0 in the two-match series.
- India ended a 12-year streak without a home Test series loss when they were defeated 3-0 by New Zealand last year.
- They secured a 2-0 victory against the West Indies in October but face a critical juncture now.
India’s early response to South Africa’s total was curtailed by adverse weather conditions, which led umpires to suspend play for bad light after just 6.1 overs. India ended their first inning with a score of 9 without loss.
A defeat in this match would mean that India experiences a second home series loss in just over a year, a situation they are determined to avoid. The pressure is mounting as they look to turn their fortunes around in the remainder of this Test.
