Sanju Samson’s Stellar Century
Sanju Samson delivered a stunning performance, scoring his first T20I century off just 40 balls as India secured a commanding 133-run victory against Bangladesh in the third and final match, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Samson’s innings of 111 runs came off 47 balls and featured 11 fours and eight sixes. He received strong support from captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed 75 runs off 35 balls, and Hardik Pandya, who added 47 runs off just 18 deliveries.
Record-Breaking Total
India’s impressive batting display propelled the team to a remarkable total of 297 runs for the loss of six wickets, marking the second-highest score in T20 international history, surpassed only by Nepal’s 314-3 against Mongolia in the 2023 Asia Cup.
The match also saw India hitting the most boundaries in a T20I match, including a record 22 sixes and 25 fours.
Bangladesh’s Response
In response, Bangladesh managed to score 164 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Towhid Hridoy top-scored for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 63 runs off 42 balls, while Litton Das added 42 runs off 25 balls. Indian wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi excelled with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs in four overs.
Key Partnerships
After opting to bat first, India lost opener Abhishek Sharma early for just 4 runs. However, Samson quickly found his rhythm, reaching his half-century in 22 balls, which included two sixes and eight fours. He then accelerated to his century, reaching 100 runs off only 40 balls, becoming the second-fastest Indian to score a T20I century after Rohit Sharma, who achieved a 35-ball ton against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Samson’s partnership with Yadav was pivotal, as the duo added 173 runs for the second wicket in just 11.5 overs, marking India’s third-highest partnership for any wicket in T20 internationals.
Samson’s Reflections
“The team management has backed me throughout. I could have performed better in previous matches, and it can be frustrating,” said Samson. “Playing for the country comes with a lot of pressure, but I’ve learned how to manage it with experience.”
Match Highlights
The game faced a brief interruption due to a floodlight failure in the ninth over, but this did not deter India. Upon resumption, Samson aggressively scored 30 runs off one over bowled by wrist spinner Rishad Hossain, hitting five sixes.
Samson was finally dismissed in the 14th over, while Yadav had already reached his fifty off 23 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes before falling shortly after.
At 206-3 in 14.3 overs, India continued to accelerate, with Riyan Parag contributing 34 runs off 13 balls and Pandya taking charge with his explosive batting, hitting four sixes and four fours.
Bangladesh Struggles
In reply, Bangladesh struggled early, falling to 59-3 in just 5.2 overs. The top order failed to make significant contributions, while Das fought valiantly, hitting eight fours. Bishnoi became the second-fastest Indian bowler to reach 50 T20I wickets when he dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 14 runs. He later caught Das in the 12th over, as Das and Hridoy managed to add 53 runs off 38 balls for the fourth wicket.
Conclusion
India’s dominant performance showcased their batting strength and ability to handle pressure, solidifying their place in T20 cricket history.
