Senuran Muthusamy Archives

Muthusamy bags ICC Player of the Month for October 2025

DUBAI: South Africa’s left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October 2025, following a series of stellar performances during his team’s Test tour of Pakistan.

Muthusamy, 31, claimed the award ahead of fellow spinners Noman Ali of Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, marking the first time he has won the prestigious monthly honor.

Across the two-match Test series, which ended in a 1-1 draw, he scored 106 runs at an average of 53 and claimed 11 wickets at an impressive 18.36, showcasing his all-round credentials.

“It feels incredible to be named the Player of the Month by the ICC, especially for performances in Test cricket, a format every player aspires to excel in,” Muthusamy said.

“Playing for a side that won the World Test Championship this year is a matter of great pride.

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“I was privileged to be part of such a competitive series in Pakistan and am happy to have contributed with both ball and bat.

“I would like to thank my teammates for their support and look forward to contributing for my team in the years to come.”

His exploits included career-best figures of 11/174 in the first Test, where he took six wickets in the first innings and five in the second.

Senuran Muthusamy also impressed with the bat in the second Test, scoring an unbeaten 89 in crucial lower-order partnerships with Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, helping South Africa secure a vital first-innings lead and ultimately a win.

These performances earned him the Player of the Series award as well.

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Muthusamy 89*, Harmer’s three wickets put South Africa on top

RAWALPINDI: South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89* backed by Simon Harmer’s three wickets left Pakistan reeling, but Babar Azam’s composed knock ensured that Pakistan stayed in the game on the third day of the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Pakistan were 94-4 at the end of the day’s play, leading by 23 runs with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease.

Babar Azam made 49 from 83 balls with the aid of seven fours, while Rizwan scored 16 not out from 49 deliveries with the help of a boundary.

For South Africa, it was Simon Harmer’s magic with the ball, picking up three wickets which rattled the home side’s top-order.

The off-spinner trapped Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood lbw, which left Pakistan 16-2 in six overs. The former could only manage nine, whereas the latter could not repeat his first innings heroics and went without scoring.

The scorecard read still 16 when Kagiso Rabada removed Abdullah Shafique after scoring just six runs.

However, Babar Azam arrested the slide and added a brief 44-run stand with Saud Shakeel, which put Pakistan into the lead.

Saud scored 11 from 43 with the aid of one four before Harmer got his wicket. Meanwhile, Babar, who was in search of runs, looked composed and struck seven fours in his knock, which gave the home side some respite at stumps.

Earlier, Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada stitched a stunning 98-run stand for the tenth wicket, helping South Africa post 404 all out before Tea.

Resuming after Lunch at 285-8, still trailing by 48 runs, South Africa’s tail launched a remarkable counterattack.

Muthusamy, who began the session unbeaten on 48, reached his second Test fifty and anchored the innings with remarkable composure.

He first forged a 71-run partnership with Keshav Maharaj, who contributed 30 off 53 balls, before falling to Noman Ali, offering Pakistan a glimmer of relief.

But Rabada had other ideas. The pacer took the attack to Pakistan’s spinners, smashing four fours and as many sixes in a blistering 71 off 61 balls, as the Proteas erased the deficit and went on to claim a 71-run first-innings lead.

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Their 98-run partnership, dominated by Rabada’s fearless hitting and Muthusamy’s calm presence, frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers for more than an hour before Asif Afridi finally ended the stand.

He trapped Rabada to complete his six-wicket haul on debut.

Muthusamy remained unbeaten on 89 off 155 deliveries, a resilient knock laced with eight boundaries.

Asif Afridi continued his dream debut, finishing with 6 for 79 in 34.3 overs, while Noman Ali picked up two wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sajid Khan claimed one apiece.

South Africa resumed Day 3 on 185-4. However, their hopes of narrowing the deficit took a blow when Kyle Verreynne departed for just 10, becoming Asif’s third victim.

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Soon after, Tristan Stubbs, who had shown remarkable composure with a 205-ball 76, fell to Afridi’s guile.

Asif Afridi, bowling with relentless accuracy, continued his rampage by trapping Simon Harmer lbw for 2, sealing his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

With wickets tumbling, Muthusamy and Marco Jansen tried to rebuild, stitching together a brief 25-run stand before Noman Ali joined the act, removing Jansen (12) to make it 235-8.

From there, Muthusamy took charge, playing with admirable composure against Pakistan’s spin duo. He found a reliable partner in Keshav Maharaj, and the pair ensured South Africa avoided further damage heading into the Lunch interval.

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Noman Ali double strike puts Pakistan on top as South Africa chase 277

LAHORE: Noman Ali struck twice in the last session of the day three, putting Pakistan on top with South Africa reeling in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Set 277, South Africa were 51-2 at stumps, still requiring 226 runs for victory.

Ryan Rickelton made 29* from 76 with the aid of three fours, and the only centurion in the match, Tony de Zorzi, battled out for his 16* from 44 in challenging conditions.

Noman continued from where he left off in the first innings, castling Proteas skipper Aiden Markram for five while Wiaan Mulder followed him in quick succession. The right-hander could not open his account.

As a result, South Africa were put in early trouble, hence reduced to 18-2. However, De Zorzi and Rickelton added 33 runs and survived the last few overs like they did in the first innings, which lifted the visitors out of the trouble.

Earlier, South African spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a sensational bowling performance, claiming five wickets in the second innings to help the visitors bundle Pakistan for 167

Having already taken six wickets in the first innings, Muthusamy added another five to his tally, finishing with match figures of 11 wickets, as Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse in the final session.

Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs after Tea, with Muthusamy running through the lower order. The hosts could only set South Africa a target of 277 runs.

The home side resumed their innings at 36-2 after lunch, with Abdullah Shafique (21) and Babar Azam (1) at the crease.

The pair looked steady before Muthusamy struck again, dismissing Shafique for 41 off 73 balls, including six boundaries, to break a 31-run third-wicket stand.

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel then stabilized the innings, adding 55 runs for the fourth wicket and pushing Pakistan’s lead beyond 200.

However, South Africa clawed back as Kagiso Rabada removed Babar for 42 off 72 deliveries, shifting momentum once more.

Shakeel looked fluent with 38 off 53 balls, but Muthusamy returned just before tea to dismiss him, halting Pakistan’s progress. At the interval, the hosts were 150-5, with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 14.

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Pakistan started their second innings with a lead of 109 runs. However, Harmer quickly dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for a two-ball duck in the second over, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 2-1.

Skipper Shan Masood joined Shafique at the crease but struggled to score, making only seven runs before also falling to Harmer.

Babar Azam then came to bat, and together with Shafique, they managed to see out the first session without any further loss of wickets.

The 16-wicket day started with Noman Ali completing a six-wicket haul to help Pakistan bowl out South Africa for 269.

Resuming the day at 216-6, South Africa were banking on Tony de Zorzi to carry them closer to Pakistan’s total of 378.

The left-hander, who began the morning on 81, completed a well-deserved century, his second in Test cricket, before falling to Noman after a hard-fought 104 that featured 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Sajid Khan struck early in the day to remove Senuran Muthusamy for 11, while Noman wrapped up the tail swiftly, leaving the visitors all out for 269.

Simon Harmer remained unbeaten on 19 as South Africa’s innings folded within the first session.

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Noman’s figures of 6-113 stood out as the defining performance of the innings, while Sajid supported ably with 3-98. Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one wicket.

Earlier, it was South Africa’s own spinners who shone on the second day, as Muthusamy’s six-wicket haul had helped the Proteas bundle Pakistan out for 378. However, the tourists failed to build on that momentum with the bat.

Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave South Africa a steady start before lunch on day two, but Noman broke the stand soon after by removing Markram for 20.

Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder then stitched together a brief partnership, with both batters looking settled before Noman struck again to dismiss Mulder for 17.

De Zorzi, who arrived next, found early fortune with a few edges flying past the slip cordon but soon looked in control.

Alongside Rickelton, he added 94 runs for the third wicket, the best partnership of the innings. Rickelton made a solid 71 off 137 deliveries before falling to Salman Ali Agha.

That dismissal triggered a collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for just 25 runs, slipping from 175-3 to 200-6. The middle order offered little resistance with Tristan Stubbs (8), Dewald Brevis (0), and Kyle Verreynne (6) all falling cheaply.

By the close of play on the second day, the Proteas were 216-6 with de Zorzi unbeaten on 81, but the next morning belonged entirely to Pakistan’s spinners.

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Noman Ali takes four to put Pakistan on top in first South Africa Test

LAHORE: Tony de Zorzi led South Africa’s resistance while Noman Ali took four wickets, putting Pakistan in a strong position at stumps on the second day of the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

South Africa were 216-6 at the close of the play, with Tony de Zorzi remaining unbeaten on 81 from 140 balls while Senuran Muthusamy is not out on six from 19 deliveries.

The highlight of the session was a 94-run partnership between De Zorzi and Riyan Rickelton. Both batters struck half-centuries and brought the team’s total to 174.

The stand eventually culminated with the set of Rickelton’s wicket, courtesy of Agha Salman’s bowling. He made 71 from 137 with the help of nine fours and two sixes.

The wicket opened the door for Pakistan as Noman and Sajid sliced through the Proteas’ middle-order and put them in a similar position to Pakistan. The visitors went from 175-3 to 200-6 in a span of 10 overs.

Tristan Stubbs was caught behind for eight while Dewald Brevis fell for a golden duck. Kyle Verreynne could not trouble the scorers much as he made six from 19.

For Pakistan, Nomal Ali starred with the ball, picking up four wickets in his 27 overs.

South Africa were 10 without loss at lunch and batted steadily in the afternoon session.

Aiden Markram, who earlier crossed the 3,000-run milestone, was the first to fall after the interval, dismissed by Noman Ali for 20 off 37 balls with the score at 45-1.

Wiaan Mulder then joined Ryan Rickelton and the pair stitched together a cautious stand to stabilise the innings.

Rickelton continued to find the gaps while Mulder played some crisp drives before Noman struck again, removing the right-hander for 17 off 41 deliveries, including three boundaries.

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Tony de Zorzi then arrived at the crease and rode his luck early, edging a couple of deliveries past the slips for boundaries.

His presence, however, proved valuable as he and Rickelton guided South Africa to 112-2 at Tea in 34 overs, trailing Pakistan by 266 runs.

Earlier, Senuran Muthusamy produced a brilliant spell of spin bowling to claim six wickets and help South Africa bowl out Pakistan for 378 in the first session.

Resuming their innings at 313 for five, Pakistan looked set for a big total as Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan picked up where they left off, extending their sixth-wicket stand beyond 150, the highest for Pakistan against South Africa at home.

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Both batters appeared in full control before Muthusamy turned the tide. He first broke the partnership by dismissing Rizwan for a hard-fought 75 off 140 deliveries, which included two fours and two sixes.

The left-arm spinner struck again almost immediately, removing Noman Ali and Sajid Khan for ducks to complete a well-deserved five-for.

Senuran Muthusamy continued to wreak havoc, bowling Shaheen Afridi for seven to register his sixth wicket, leaving Pakistan nine down.

The innings finally ended at 378 when off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen dismissed Salman Ali Agha for a composed 93 off 145 balls, an innings decorated with five fours and three sixes.

Muthusamy finished with superb figures of 6-117 in 32 overs, while Subrayen chipped in with two wickets. Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer claimed one apiece.

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