Sensational Samson Century Sinks South Africa

Unbeatable Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson became the first Indian – and fourth overall – to hit back-to-back hundreds in T20Is, leading India to a 1-0 lead against South Africa in Durban. His 47-ball century was an exhibition of elite six-hitting, with 10 sixes in 13 hits.

The Game-Changer

Samson gauged the bounce of the quicks early on, negating it by batting deep in his crease. When pacers attempted to course correct, he pulled and flicked the ball with ease. South Africa's 22-year-old leggie Nqabayomzi Peter dished out two hit-me half-trackers to a raging Samson, who sent both soaring into the deep mid-wicket stands.

Rotational Baseball Disadvantage

Patrick Kruger attempted a different strategy, bowling full and wide and trying slower ones, but he too was taken to the cleaners. Samson's bat swing continued to flourish as he took the team to 100 in the 11th over, off Keshav Maharaj.

Glue That Held Together India's Choke

Varun CV brought instant dividends in the PowerPlay for South Africa as Ryan Rickelton hit one to Tilak Varma at long on.

Gunned Down by Hardik Pandya

Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller looked to take charge in the middle-overs, punishing anything short from the Indian spinners. But both Varun and Ravi Bishnoi consistently bowled full and cramped the two free-spirited hitters for room.

Who Was In Slayed?

• Aiden Markram – caught behind in the first over off Arshdeep Singh
• Tristan Stubbs – caught at mid-off in the fourth over by Avesh Khan
• Heinrich Klaasen – caught in the deep by Axar Patel
• David Miller – caught at point by Avesh Khan

Brief Scores:
India 202/8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 107, Tilak Varma 33) beat South Africa 141 in 17.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 25; Varun CV 3-25, Ravi Bishnoi 3-28, Avesh Khan 2-28) by 61 runs