Muthusamy: Hat-trick wasn’t meant to be

Senuran Muthusamy says he’s grateful to have played his part after claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket for the Proteas in Lahore.

With frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj sidelined by a groin injury, Muthusamy delivered superbly on day two of the first Test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium, taking 6-117 as South Africa bowled the hosts out for 378.

The left-arm spinner twice found himself on a hat-trick, removing Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel on the stroke of tea on day one, and then striking three times in one over on day two to rip through Pakistan’s lower order.

“It was cool, but it wasn’t quite meant to be in that innings,” Muthusamy said of the near hat-trick. “It was really nice to add value to the team and pick up those wickets to open up the game.

“It would have been nice to take a hat-trick, but it wasn’t to be. These conditions are as spin friendly as I’ve ever seen; but as a team, we bowled well. The guys bowled well, we all contributed nicely, and I’m grateful to have picked up the wickets.”

His triple strike in the 102nd over – removing Mohammad Rizwan, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali – turned the innings on its head, reducing Pakistan from 362-5 to 362-8.

Muthusamy was quick to credit fellow spinners Simon Harmer and Prenelan Subrayen, who supported him in a three-pronged attack that claimed nine wickets between them.

“It was a lot of hard work and toil as a bowling unit,” he said. “Simon and Prenelan also bowled very well and asked questions throughout, but I was fortunate enough to pick up the wickets.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan vs Proteas (1st Test, Day 2)

South Africa’s reply of 216-6 was dented by a late collapse after a promising 94-run stand between Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi.

“It wasn’t ideal to have lost all of those wickets towards the end of the day’s play,” Muthusamy admitted. “But these things happen in Test cricket. It’s about bouncing back and finding some resilience again because we did a lot of good today.”