Dashing Indian cricketer Sanju Samson has etched his name into the history books after becoming the only ever batsman to score three T20I centuries in a single year following his stunning innings against South Africa on Friday. The Indian opener was in great touch, scoring 109 runs off just 56 balls, including 6 fours and 9 sixes, in the fourth T20I. Samson was the first century maker in the four-match series but was unfortunately out cleaned bowled for two other matches followed by another for a duck. However, that did not affect his form at all even when he was batting against the South Africa bowlers on Friday because he looked fully in control and his brilliant knock took India to 283/1.
The brute smartness of Tilak Varma complimented the immaculate precision of Sanju Samson as India played the South African bowlers and racked up a commanding 283 for 1 in the fourth and final T20 International. This has been the best total achieved by India in T20Is outside the country and the highest ever in the South African territory by any team.
Out of many amazing milestones that were achieved, the most interesting would be two Indian players scoring hundreds in the same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also share the record for the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals – 210 runs off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
Samson, who scored a brilliant 109 not out off 56 balls in the previous match, once again demolished the Africans alongside Varma, who has made a name for himself as a confident and energetic number three (120 not out off 47 balls).
Samson has three T20I centuries to his name in the last five innings which also had two ducks while Varma has two T20I centuries In two games.
While Samson effortlessly completed his century in just 51 balls, Varma expedited his in a mere 41 balls, which was 10 balls less of his own effort.
Credit also goes to Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) for waging a war during the Powerplay, hitting four sixes in the process.
On a good batting wicket, what with the true bounce on offer, Indian batters achieved a record of 23 sixes as anyone could mash the ball back by simply getting rid of the transient front leg. Samson had equaled nine sixes which was a perfect overlap of Varma’s ten.
It was a good thing too that Gerald Coetzee the best fast bowler on the other side seemed to be carrying some sort of injury. The two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) looked like hapless targets, waiting to be thrashed. With Simelane and Sipamla the Indians managed to hit 10 sixes.
Comments are closed.