Sanju Samson Scores Scintillating Second Ton But India Manage Only 202 For 8 In 1st T20I

Sanju Samson displayed his true potential sending South African attack on a lear-hunt with a splendid century before hosts clawed ir way back to restrict India to a manable 202 for 8 in opening T20I here on Friday.

Often panned for t realizing minefield of talent that he is, Kerala man has w become first Indian batter to hit back-to-back centuries in T20 Internationals as his 50-ball-107 h as many as 10 sixes apart from seven hits to fence.

Once Samson was dismissed, India could man only 35 runs in last five overs, which could cost m dearly in long run.

On a breezy Durban evening with crosswinds blowing across Kingsme, Sanju showed Samson-like strength apart from silken grace that one can associate with Rohit Sharma 's halcyon days.

re were pulled sixes off short balls from leg-spinner Nqabyomzi Peter and to length deliveries from pacers, he would just make room and tonk m down ground.

best shot which would be etched in memory for longest time would be a lofted six over extra cover off seamer Andile Semilane where batter holding pose post execution was sight to behold.

He ded 66 runs in just 5.5 overs with Suryakumar Yav (21) and ar 77 with Tilak Varma (33) in 5.4 overs.

His performance raised visions of a score of close to 250 but pacers Gerald Coetzee (3/37 in 4 overs) and Marco Jansen (1/24 in 4 overs) bowled brilliantly at death to t only get wickets but also slip in a generous number of dot balls to curtail dam inflicted by Samson during first 15 overs.