INDvsSAIndia scored a huge score of 283 runs for one wicket against South Africa in the fourth and final T20 International match here on Friday, thanks to the explosive unbeaten century innings of Sanju Samson and Tilak Verma.
This is India’s highest score in T20 International so far on foreign soil and by any country on South African soil. Samson and Verma made an unbeaten partnership of 210 runs in just 93 balls for the second wicket, which was also the highest partnership for any wicket in this format for India.
Many records were broken during the match, the most important record of which was two Indian batsmen scoring centuries in the same T20 International innings. 22-year-old Tilak from Hyderabad hit nine fours and 10 sixes in just 47 balls, becoming the second Indian to score consecutive centuries in T20 international cricket.
Samson, who scored a brilliant century in the first match, faced 56 balls and hit six fours and nine sixes in his century innings. Along with Verma, Samson once again defeated the South African bowlers. Verma looked full of confidence and enthusiasm at number three.
Samson has scored three T20 International centuries in the last five innings, including being out for a duck twice, while Verma has scored two consecutive T20 International centuries. Samson completed 100 runs in 51 balls with six fours and eight sixes and Verma completed his 100 runs in 51 balls. To complete the century, it took 41 balls which included six fours and nine sixes.
Abhishek Sharma (36 runs in 18 balls) should also get credit for giving momentum to the innings by hitting four big sixes in the powerplay.
Indian batsmen hit a record 23 sixes on a good pitch for batting. South African fast bowler Geralf Coetzee looked injured due to which he was having trouble bowling and this only benefited India.
Both the batsmen thrashed the medium pace bowlers Andile Simelane and Lutho Sipamla. By the time captain Aiden Markram introduced Coetzee for the second spell, the Indian batsmen had done their job.
South Africa’s bowlers bowled 17 wide balls to control the panic. Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs also could not escape the wrath of both the batsmen against whom both of them played all the shots like cut, pull, slog sweep, reverse sweep.
There was no corner of the ground where these two Indians did not hit strokes. In fact, one of Samson’s shots hit the cheek of a female spectator, making her cry in pain and the TV cameras captured it. (Language)
