South African spinner Senuran Muthusamy made history during the ongoing Lahore Test against Pakistan by equalling a 41-year-old record, becoming only the second bowler to take five wickets in each innings of a Test match played against Pakistan on Pakistani soil.
The match has entered a decisive phase, with South Africa needing 226 runs and Pakistan requiring 8 wickets to secure victory.
At the close of the third day, while defending a 277-run target, Pakistan managed to restrict the Proteas to 51 for 2. Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 29, alongside Tony de Zorzi on 16. For Pakistan, Noman Ali dismissed Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder.
Muthusamy’s remarkable performance saw him claim 6 wickets for 117 runs in the first innings and 5 wickets for 57 runs in the second — a feat previously achieved only by England’s Nick Cook, who took 6 for 65 and 5 for 18 in the 1984 Karachi Test.
With a match total of 11 wickets for 174 runs, Muthusamy also surpassed Hasan Ali’s 2021 record of taking 10 wickets for 114 runs against South Africa in Pakistan.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s veteran spinner Noman Ali also made headlines by surpassing Iqbal Qasim’s record for the most five-wicket hauls by a Pakistani left-arm spinner. Playing at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the 39-year-old claimed 6 for 112, marking his ninth five-wicket haul and taking the lead over Qasim, who held eight.
As the Test heads into its final days, fans are closely watching whether Muthusamy’s record-breaking brilliance or Pakistan’s bowling attack will define the outcome of this gripping encounter.
