India (Commonwealth Union)_ South Africa’s left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy carved his name into the history books, delivering a standout performance against Pakistan in the ongoing Test match in Lahore. The 31-year-old spinner of Indian Tamil descent recorded the best first-innings figures by a visiting spinner in Pakistan, surpassing a mark set by the legendary Shane Warne nearly three decades ago. Pakistan had resumed Day 2 of the Test at 313 for 5, with Mohammad Rizwan on 62 and Salman Agha unbeaten on 52. Muthusamy led a sharp turnaround for the visitors, finishing with figures of 6 for 117 and helping dismiss Pakistan for 380.
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Muthusamy’s effort broke Warne’s long-standing record of 6 for 136, set during the 1994-1995 tour in Lahore, according to reports. Despite strong individual performances by Pakistan’s top order, including Imam-ul-Haq’s gritty 93, captain Shan Masood’s 76, Rizwan’s composed 75, and Agha’s 93, Muthusamy’s tight lines and patient bowling triggered a collapse. For context, the best-ever figures in a first innings by any spinner in Pakistan remain with Abdul Qadir, who claimed 9 for 56 against England in Lahore during the 1986-1987 season. In terms of all innings by visiting spinners in Pakistan, West Indies’ Jomel Warrican holds the overall record with 7 for 32 in Multan earlier in the 2024-2025 season.
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South Africa’s response to the bat began cautiously. Captain Aiden Markram (20 off 37) built a 45-run stand with opener Ryan Rickelton before being dismissed by spinner Nauman Ali. Markram, however, crossed the milestone of 3,000 Test runs during his brief stay at the crease. His record now stands at 3,013 runs in 85 innings across 47 tests, averaging 36.30, with eight centuries and 13 half-centuries. Nauman also claimed the wicket of Wiaan Mulder, leaving South Africa at 80 for 2. Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi then steadied the innings with a valuable 94-run partnership for the third wicket. Rickelton played a composed knock of 71 off 137 deliveries, including nine boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed by Salman Agha. By stumps on Day 2, the Proteas had reached 216 for 6, still trailing Pakistan by 162 runs. Zorzi remained unbeaten on a resilient 81, while Muthusamy joined him at the crease to end the day. Nauman Ali was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, finishing the day with 4 for 85.
Born on February 22, 1994, in Durban, Senuran Muthusamy is a left-handed all-rounder who bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin. Of Tamil heritage, with ancestral roots in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, Muthusamy has been steadily rising through South Africa’s cricketing ranks. He made his test debut in October 2019 against India and has since been a reliable performer. In his short Test career, he has now played six matches, scoring 173 runs at an average of 43.25 and taking 16 wickets, including his latest match-winning spell. Muthusamy began his cricketing journey in Durban’s local leagues before making his mark with KwaZulu-Natal and later the Dolphins in domestic cricket. His steady performances earned him national selection across all formats.
In the present Lahore Test, he followed up on his first-innings heroics with a five-wicket haul in the second, demonstrating his capacity to execute under pressure. Muthusamy, known for his cool temperament and adaptability, is also an effective lower-order batsman. While he maintains a quiet profile off the field, he does occasionally reveal details about his cricketing life on social media, interacting with fans all around the world. Muthusamy’s debut came at a perfect moment for South Africa’s Test team, which is still rebuilding and evolving. He is proving to be an important part of the Proteas’ lineup with both the ball and the bat, and his record-breaking performance in Lahore is most likely just the beginning.
