Ton-up Sanju Samson delivered a knock to remember in India's series-clinching 133-run win in third T20I against Bangladesh. Batting at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the right-handed batsman scored a brilliant 111 runs from 47 balls, including 11 fours and eight sixes. His innings featured the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian, achieved in just 40 balls. But the glory didn't come easy for Samson.
Sanju Samson wreaks havoc with splendid century in Hyderabad
Prior to the third T20I against Bangladesh, Samson was under scanner, having scored 29 (19) and 10 (7) in the previous two matches. However, he received support from assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate, who confirmed that Samson would continue to play in the series finale. Samson's overall record in T20Is includes 594 runs from 33 matches at an average of 22.84.
Right after the match, Samson revealed what helped him keep his mind steady throughout the lows which he experience before blasting the match-winning knock in Hyderabad. The Kerala-batter said that he kept reminding himself to stick to the basics which really helped him sail past the batting struggles.
I know how to deal with the pressure: Sanju Samson
"The dressing room energy and the boys are happy for me. It can get frustrating, I could have done much better. With lots of experience, I know how to deal with the pressure. Playing for the country, you come in with a lot of pressure. That pressure was there, I wanted to perform," Samson, who was adjudged player of match, said in the post-match press conference.
"I kept reminding myself that I should stick to my basics. In the last series I got two ducks. The team management backed me. I have been trying to do something like this (five sixes in an over), I was chasing that and it happened today," he added.
Sanju Samson surpassed Rohit Sharma's record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter against Bangladesh, achieving the milestone in just 23 balls. Despite struggling in the previous two matches, Samson redeemed himself with a remarkable performance in Hyderabad.
Opening the batting, the 29-year-old Samson showcased his batting prowess, forming a crucial partnership of 173 runs for the second wicket with Suryakumar Yadav. While Suryakumar was dismissed on 75, Samson continued his aggressive approach and achieved his maiden T20I century. Samson's innings eventually came to an end, but India's momentum carried on as Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag contributed significantly to the team's total, helping India reach a massive 297 for six in their 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh perished under pressure and were restricted to 164/7 to hand India a massive win.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto rued team's embarrassing defeat and admitted their substandard show throughout the series.
"We didn't play our best cricket. We didn't execute our plans as a batting unit in all the three matches. Today all the bowlers didn't bowl well. We should believe in ourselves that we can compete. (Positives) The way Hridoy batted today was impressive. The top-order batsmen have to improve a lot," Shanto said after the match.
