With the series tied 1-1, India’s top-order needed to deliver. They couldn’t afford a slip-up. With the younger generation knocking, Sanju Samson needed to prove his worth. He couldn’t afford a slip-up either.
Brief Scores: India: 296 for 8 in 50 overs (Sanju Samson 108, Tilak Varma 52; Beuran Hendricks 3/63).
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Sanju Samson’s maiden ODI hundred couldn’t come at a better time. He had failed in the second ODI and another misfire was not going to help his case with the selectors. His team was also under pressure, having lost the in-form opener Sai Sudharsan and captain KL Rahul early. Promoted to a familiar (read comfortable) one-down position, the Rajasthan Royals captain was at his classy best. And his innings was also best summed up by the IPL side — "Sanju *𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠* Samson" the X post read.
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Powered by Samson’s hundred, India reached a mighty 296 for eight against South Africa in the series decider at Paarl on Thursday.
Samson (108 off 114 balls) found a perfect sidekick in the patient Tilak Varma, who struck his first ODI fifty (52 off 77 balls), as they milked 116 precious runs for the fourth-wicket to place India in a position to win this series.
Samson and Varma came together when India were slightly wobbling at 101 for three after being asked to bat first.
But the pair showed excellent situational awareness.
Their partnership was all about pragmatism without letting go of any opportunity to unfurl any big shot.
Usually a free-flowing hitter, Samson shelved his macho intentions for a large part of his innings, concentrating on singles and twos as the Boland Park pitch also had this slight bite on it.
But the right-hander intermittently brought out his T20 avatar into play like when he smashed pacer Nandre Burger for a big six over mid-wicket or while executing an exquisite inside-out loft over cover off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for a four.
His fifty came off 66 balls with a single to third man off pacer Beuran Hendricks.
But at the other end, Varma generally struggled for flow as he could find a boundary only in his 39th ball, a scratchy pull off Hendricks.
However, the left-hander gave company to Samson to take India out of the woods.
Finally, Varma fell in his venture to accelerate, a miss-timed sweep off Maharaj ending in the hands of Wiaan Mulder in the deep.
But Samson carried on and was not to be denied a hundred this time.
The landmark moment for him came when he pushed Maharaj to long-off for a single as the dressing room went on its feet to applaud a fine dig.
Samson was dismissed as he tried to up the ante as a skier off pacer Lizaad Williams was snaffled by Reeza Hendricks inside the rings.
However, a good cameo by Rinku Singh (38 off 27 balls) helped India motor on in the end phase of the innings.
– With PTI inputs
