Sanju Samson in action for India against South Africa© AFP
Indian cricket team wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson became the first ever player to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year after his sensational defeat to South Africa on Friday. The India opener looked in phenomenal form as he eventually scored 109 off just 56 balls with the help of 6 fours and 9 sixes in the fourth T20I. Samson started the four-match series with a brilliant century, but he was dismissed for a duck in the next two matches. However, that didn't affect his form at all as he looked in complete control against the South African bowlers on Friday and his brilliant knock took India to 283/1.
Centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma lead India to a huge total#SAvIND : https://t.co/nCcnyy7c2U pic.twitter.com/BLjrRC9L6n
— ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2024
Sanju Samson's precision found its match in Tilak Varma's muscular elegance as India played with the South African bowling attack and scored an imposing 283 for 1 in the fourth and final T20 International. This is by far India's highest T20I total abroad and the highest of any country on South African soil.
Among the plethora of records that fell, the most special will be two Indian batsmen scoring centuries in the same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also achieved the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals — 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
Samson (109 not out from 56 balls), who smashed a superb century in the first game, once again defeated the Proteas in the company of Varma (120 not out from 47 balls), who has really come into his own with new-found confidence and strength. at number three.
Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five bats, which also includes 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 real bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line just by clearing your front leg. Samson's nine maxima were one less than Varma's ten.
It only helped India that the opposition's best fast bowler, Gerald Coetzee, appeared to be at fault. The two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) looked like lambs for slaughter. The Indians hit 10 sixes off Simelane and Sipamla.
(With PTI inputs)
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