Sanju Samson in action for India against South Africa© AFP
Indian cricket team wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson became the first player ever to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year following his sensational knock against South Africa on Friday. The India opener looked in phenomenal form as he ended up scoring off 109 just 56 balls with the help of 6 fours and 9 sixes in the fourth T20I. Samson started the four-matches series with a brilliant century but he was dismissed for a duck in the next two matches. However, that did not affect his form at all as he seemed completely in control against the South Africa bowlers on Friday and his brilliant knock took India to 283/1.
Centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma guide India towards a mammoth total#SAvIND : pic.twitter.com/BLjrRC9L6n
— ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2024
Sanju Samson’s precision met its match in Tilak Varma’s muscular elegance as India toyed with South African bowling attack to post an imposing 283 for 1 in the fourth and final T20 International. This is by far India’s highest T20I total overseas and highest by any country on South African soil.
Among the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one will be two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals — 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), who smashed a superb century in the first game, once again pummelled the Proteas in company of Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) who has really come into his own with new found confidence and vigour at number three.
Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five knocks which also included two ducks while Varma has scored back-to-back T20I tons.
Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma’s (41 balls) took 10 balls less.
Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping the ante in the Powerplay with four huge sixes.
On a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line by just clearing one’s front leg. Samson’s nine maximums was one less than Varma’s 10.
It only helped India that the opposition’s best fast bowler Gerald Coetzee seemed to be carrying a niggle. The two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) seemed like lambs for slaughter. The Indians hit 10 sixes from Simelane and Sipamla.
(With PTI inputs)
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