South Africa Defeats India in Home Series Upset
In a surprising turn of events in the second Test match held in Guwahati, South Africa defeated India, dramatically shifting the series dynamics. The Proteas took a commanding 2-0 lead in the two-match series, capitalizing on a significant first-innings advantage.
Match Overview
South Africa scored 489 runs in their first innings, powered by an impressive century from Muthusamy, who tallied 109 runs. In response, India posted 201 runs, falling short by 288 runs. This defeat indicates a stark change in India’s recent Test performances, especially at home.
Key Player Performances
- Muthusamy: Scored 109 runs in South Africa’s first innings.
- Marco Jansen: Achieved remarkable bowling figures of 6 wickets for 48 runs.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Top-scored for India with 58 runs.
- Washington Sundar: Contributed 48 runs in a resilient yet slow partnership.
Jansen’s striking performance not only highlighted his bowling skills but also included a career-best score of 93 runs in South Africa’s first innings. His exceptional ability led to India losing seven wickets for only 20 runs when the score was at 102.
Series Context
This loss marks a challenging period for India, who had previously gone 12 years without losing a Test series at home until they faced defeat against New Zealand last year. Although they secured a 2-0 victory over the West Indies in October, this latest series loss represents a significant setback.
As South Africa heads into the final day of this match, they are firmly positioned to conclude the series with a decisive victory. With a 314-run lead and only 26 runs on the board at the close of day three, the odds favor the touring side to clinch a 2-0 series win.
