India’s wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, shortly after smashing a dazzling century against South Africa in the series’ fourth T20I match, lamented how he has experienced a lot of tragic moments in his life, and that’s why the century against the South Africans was of significance to him. Samson navigated the crease to make an unbeaten 109 runs off 56 deliveries. Samson struck 6 four’s and 9 sixes with a strike rate of 194.64. While addressing the media on the evening of the break in the innings, he explained how he kept the faith and worked towards accomplishing it on Friday. He went on to add that there were several factors which played in his mind prior to the game. The India wicketkeeper-batter was full of praise for Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma stating that they were of a lot of help to him in the first inning in Johannesburg.
“I guess it is a little difficult to say as I am quite breathless at the moment. I have had so many failures in my life, got two hundred and then two ducks, I always believed that this day would come and that day was today. I experienced a couple of failures and I can tell you that a lot of things were in my mind, Abhishek started off well and thanks to him and then to Tilak,” said Samson.
After winning the toss, India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav decided to bat first. The choice bore fruit as the team made a good show.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were the opening pair for India, sharing a solid 73 runs for the opening wicket together. Abhishek played a good hand hitting 2 fours and 4 sixes but was dismissed in the 6th over bowled out by Lutho Sipamla.
Yet, the Proteas failed to make any further inroads as Samson, now with Tilak Varma was still going strong. This pair wreaked havoc on the morose South African bowlers, who looked unbothered by the duo’s ferocity.
As the innings began to reach its final phase, the pair in the middle showed no signs of urgency. Sanju Samson got to a brilliant ton in a mere 51 balls in the 18th over when Tilak Varma got to his second T20I hundred in the very next over.
The record breaking partnership of 210 runs for the 2nd wicket between Samson and Tilak propelled India to a healthy score of 283/1. While Samson scored a quickfire 109 runs off just 51 balls, Tilak scored an unheard of 120 runs off just 47 balls without losing his wicket
The bowlers from the South African side looked ineffective brittle in all sense of the word, as Lutho Sipamla was the only bowler who managed to get a wicket. Although, that was the case, Sipamla also contributed to the cause of the Indian batsmen by giving away the highest number of runs.
There is a target of 284 runs placed before South Africa which they need to achieve to win this one in Johannesburg.
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