India secured a 61-run victory in the first T20I against South Africa in Durban, led by Sanju Samson’s sensational century that featured 10 sixes and dazzling stroke play.
India Triumphs Over South Africa as Samson and Spinners Dominate in First T20I
Sanju Samson’s electrifying century powered India to a 61-run victory over South Africa in the opening T20I match on Friday.
Samson scored a stunning 107 runs off 50 balls, marking his second consecutive T20I century and setting a new record for India.
His innings included ten towering sixes, helping India post a strong total of 202/8 despite a slower last five overs.
India’s spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, backed up Samson’s batting heroics.
Chakravarthy took 3/25, removing crucial South African players Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, effectively sealing the game.
Bishnoi added to the pressure with his spell of 3/28, keeping South Africa on the back foot by bowling five consecutive dot balls in one over to Miller.
South Africa’s batting lineup struggled, folding at 141 in just 17.5 overs.
On a pitch favouring batsman, the Varun-Bishnoi combination bowled 27 dot balls, leaving South Africa without momentum.
Samson’s strategic use of the field, combined with powerful shot selection, highlighted his development as a batsman and hinted at his potential as a future mainstay at the top order for India.
Brief Scores:
India: 202/8 (Sanju Samson 107, Tilak Varma 33; Gerald Coetzee 3/37)
South Africa: 141 all out in 17.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 25; Varun Chakravarthy 3/25, Ravi Bishnoi 3/28)
Samson’s Power-packed Century and India’s Innings
Samson’s innings was a showcase of power and finesse, scoring his first 50 off just 27 balls and accelerating further for his second fifty.
Forming crucial partnerships, he added 66 runs with Suryakumar Yadav and another 77 with Tilak Varma, where he contributed nearly 60% of the runs.
India looked set to breach 250 but lost momentum after Samson’s dismissal, managing only 35 runs in the final overs as South Africa’s bowlers, led by Gerald Coetzee, restricted the score to 202/8.
“Really enjoyed my time in the middle. Playing it well, maximum utilisation of my current form you can say. [on what is going right for him] The intent, we have been talking about being aggressive and keeping the team ahead of yourselves.
Once you play three-four balls you are looking for the boundary, I’m not thinking much, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t, happy it worked out well today. [how important was it to start the series well?] It was very crucial, knowing the home advantage South Africa has, they are a gun side and it was important to start the series well. Happy that we started with a win.” – Said Sanju
South Africa’s Stumble and India’s Tight Bowling
In reply, South Africa struggled against India’s spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, each claiming three wickets.
South African batters, including Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen, failed to build momentum, leaving India in control.
Though debutant Andile Simelane added flair by hitting a six off his first international delivery, South Africa fell short, closing at 141, marking a comfortable win for India.
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