Was Muthusamy's Maiden Century Really Special in Front of a Full House?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Muthusamy's maiden century marks a significant personal achievement.
- Teamwork played a crucial role in building a strong total.
- Strong partnerships were essential for extending the innings.
- Muthusamy's performance was highlighted by the support from teammates.
- Review decisions can change the course of the game.
Guwahati, Nov 23 (NationPress) Senuran Muthusamy from South Africa took center stage on Day 2 of the second Test against India at the Barsapara Stadium, scoring an impressive maiden century that propelled the team from an overnight score of 247/6 to a total of 489 by the end of their first innings. He reflected on the moment as deeply meaningful, particularly in front of a packed audience, and expressed happiness in contributing to the team’s score.
Muthusamy, recently honored with the ICC Player of the Month award, received valuable assistance from wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne (45 off 122) and Marco Jansen, who added 93 runs off 91 balls before narrowly missing out on his own century.
After the game, the batting all-rounder, who achieved 109 runs off 206 balls while batting at No. 7, stated, “This was a truly special moment in front of this enthusiastic crowd. I’m thrilled to have contributed to the team and put runs on the board in the first innings, which is always crucial.”
When asked about his approach after the team lost six wickets, he replied, “My focus was on building partnerships and extending the innings while scoring runs. I think Scholesy (Verreynne) performed excellently today, and Marco was exceptional. The other players also made significant contributions, which was fantastic.”
Jansen was remarkable with the bat, hitting six fours and an astounding seven sixes, causing issues for the Indian bowlers. His towering sixes brought him close to a hundred before he unfortunately fell to Kuldeep Yadav.
Muthusamy praised Jansen’s striking capabilities, saying, “It was incredible. I had the best view. That was exceptional. His ball striking was fantastic.”
The batting all-rounder overcame an lbw scare when a successful review granted him a second chance. He deliberated with Verreynne before signaling to the umpire for a review. He expressed relief upon seeing the big screen reveal a ‘little scratch’, indicating the ball had brushed his glove before hitting his pad.
“Amid the noise and emotion, I was quite disappointed. When I was with Scholesy, I mentioned that it might’ve just brushed my glove, and I thought I might be safe. When the DRS confirmed it, I felt fantastic that there was indeed a little scratch. I sensed something, but the disappointment of being given out overshadowed it initially,” he added.