Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma both hit hundreds as India set numerous records in the fourth and final T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg on 15 November.
The India batters hit sixes to light up the Johannesburg skies on their way to a huge total of 283/1 in 20 overs.
In the last T20I of India’s visit to South Africa, India went onto the field with the assurance of not losing the four-match series with a 2-1 lead, as South Africa tried to even the scores.
India chose to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to put pressure on the Proteas by setting a challenging target for them to chase.
The initial duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma started the side off well by continuing their excellent performance from previous games, scoring 73 runs in the powerplay before Abhishek Sharma was caught out by Heinrich Klaasen.
After scoring his first T20I century in the previous game, Tilak Verma continued his aggressive play, increasing the pace even more and putting pressure on the South African bowlers, who were already struggling.
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma went on a rampage, hitting numerous boundaries and sixes to reach individual scores in the hundreds.
Tilak Varma’s scoring of 120 runs off 47 deliveries made him only the second Indian, following Sanju Samson, and the fifth player in total to achieve back-to-back centuries in T20I cricket.
Sanju Samson has scored three centuries in his last five T20Is, his latest being 109 off 56 balls.
283 is the highest score ever achieved in a T20 match in South Africa. Tilak and Samson’s centuries made India the third international team, alongside the Czech Republic and Japan, to have two batsmen score hundreds in one innings.
India hit 23 sixes in their innings, making it the third highest number of sixes in a T20I innings and the most in a T20I between two Full Member teams.
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma’s 210-run partnership is the top for any wicket for India in T20Is. India now holds the top two highest totals in a T20I between two Full Member sides, with this total and their 297 against Bangladesh recently.
South Africa found themselves in a vulnerable position at 10/4 while chasing India’s large total after 3 overs.
#Sanju,Samso
Leave a Reply