Sanju Samson stars with ton as India defeat South Africa by 61 runs in 1st T20I

The spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy (3/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) then shared six wickets between them to bowl out South Africa for 141 in 17.5 overs.

Earlier, Samson became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in T20Is.

The opener notched his second T20I hundred off just 47 balls. His first had come in India’s last outing against Bangladesh last month.

Often panned for not realizing the minefield of talent that he is, the Kerala man has now become the first Indian batter to hit back-to-back centuries in T20 Internationals as his 50-ball-107 had as many as 10 sixes apart from seven hits to the fence.

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

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

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

The best shot which would be etched in the memory for the longest time would be a lofted six over extra cover off seamer Andile Semilane where the batter holding the pose post execution was sight to behold.
He added 66 runs in just 5.5 overs with Suryakumar Yadav (21) and another 77 with Tilak Varma (33) in 5.4 overs.

However, South Africa clawed their way back into the game as they stemmed the flow of runs by picking wickets in the last five overs.

Pacer Gerald Coetzee who claimed three wickets was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts.