Rajasthan Royals (RR) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign on a winning note after the Sanju Samson-led side secured a comfortable 61-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 29 (Tuesday).
While talking about the pitch, the RR skipper said that “the wicket was helping the fast bowlers if you hit the typical Test match lengths.”
Samson speaks
“I think it was a different wicket than what we thought. The wicket was helping the fast bowlers if you hit the typical Test match lengths. No long time goals. Happy to contribute to the team’s victory, worked on my fitness. I chose the right scoring opportunities. Tried to spend time in the wicket,” Samson said during the post-match presentation.
Samson also lavished huge praise on director of cricket of Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara.
“Leaders like Sangakkara help me a lot. A lot of cricketing brains has gone in to pick the right side. This season we have come in with great dreams. Our owners take great care of us. Lot of good sides and we will take one game at a time,” the RR skipper explained.
Samson's record
In the match against SRH, Samson played a superb innings of 55 runs off 27 deliveries. His innings was comprised of 3 boundaries and 5 sixes. Samson also broke Shane Watson’s long-standing record for the Royals. Samson now has most sixes for Royals in the history of IPL. Previously, Watson had hit 109 sixes from 76 innings.
Later, Devdutt Padikkal (41 runs off 29 balls) and Shimron Hetmyer (32 runs off 13 balls) helped their side in reaching a mammoth total of 210/6 in 20 overs.
In response, the Hyderabad-based franchise could not start the run chase convincingly as they lost their first three wickets within just first five overs. Later, Aiden Markram (57 not out off 41 balls) and Washington Sundar (40 runs off 14 balls) tried to put up some fight but eventually their resistance turned out to be futile as the Kane Williamson-led side could manage to reach a total of 149/7 in 20 overs.
Samson was adjudged as the Man of the Match for his terrific batting show. The Rajasthan-based side currently find themselves at the top spot of the points table.
