At Durban, Sanju Samson broke records and South African aspirations with his second consecutive T20I century in just his fourth game. He will go down as one of the most devastating T20I hundreds ever scored by an Indian against South Africa.
India scored 17 fours and 13 sixes, with Samson scoring seven fours and ten sixes, with the majority of their runs coming from boundaries. He was especially vicious square of the wicket, scoring 88 of his 107 runs in boundaries overall. He only managed 13 runs behind square, but he amassed 69 runs from 19 balls in the area between point and cover, square leg, and mid-wicket. Samson aggressively faced the spinners, scoring 58 runs off of the 27 balls he faced from Nqaba Peter, Aiden Markram, and Keshav Maharaj combined. He also shared in two spectacular stands, scoring 77 runs off 34 balls with Tilak Varma and 66 runs off 37 balls with his captain, Suryakumar Yadav. Thus, India’s innings had pace in the middle order that South could not match.
When they finally drew India back, they might have believed they had given themselves a chance. After Samson was dismissed in the 17th over, India scored 28 runs off 20 balls and lost four wickets, putting South Africa in danger of giving up the biggest total at Kingsmead and the most against India. It proved to be far too much, as they still ended up with their fourth-highest total against South Africa.
When they finally drew India back, they might have believed they had given themselves a chance. After Samson was dismissed in the 17th over, India scored 28 runs off 20 balls and lost four wickets, putting South Africa in danger of giving up the biggest total at Kingsmead and the most against India. It proved to be far too much, as they still ended up with their fourth-highest total against South Africa.
