Sanju Samson’s breathtaking second century was beautifully complemented by spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi as India outclassed South Africa by a whopping 61 runs in the first T20 International to go 1-0 up in the four-match series in Durban on Friday.
Often panned for not realizing the minefield of talent that he is, Samson became the first Indian batter to hit back-to-back centuries in T20 Internationals as his 50-ball-107 with as many as 10 monstrous sixes took India to 202 for 8 in 20 overs.
This despite India managing a mere 35 runs in the last five overs.
In reply, it was Varun (3/25 in 4 overs), who literally killed the contest by getting Heinrich Klaasen (25 off 22 balls) and David Miller (18 off 22 balls) in a space of three deliveries in the 12th over with South Africa being shot out for 141 in 17.5 overs.
Overall, he is fourth batter to hit back to back centuries in T20 Internationals after England’s Phil Salt, South African Rilee Rossouw and France’s Gustav McKeon.
Samson, who got to his hundred from just 47 balls, registered the fastest century by an Indian against South Africa in T20 Internationals.
It rained sixes at the Kingsmead stadium as Samson put on a stunning exhibition. He hit leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter for back to back sixes in the eighth over to race to his fifty from just 27 balls.
He continued his assault as he hit the South African to all parts of the ground. Samson took a single off Keshav Maharaj to complete his century from 47 balls, racing from 50 to 100 from just 20 balls. before he perished in the 16th over, caught in the deep off leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter.
South Africa clawed their way back into the game, picking up wickets regularly at the death. Pacer Gerald Coetzee helped the Proteas restrict the Indians in the last few overs, taking 3/37.
The Kerala batter had slammed a 40-ball century in his previous game, against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last month.
