Samson and the spinners power India to a big win over South Africa in the first T20

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) – Sanju Samson became only the fourth batsman to score a consecutive hundred in Twenty20 international cricket when he halted India’s 61-run win over South Africa on Friday.

Samson scored 107 runs off 50 balls to take India to 202-8.

Wrist spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi then shared six wickets as South Africa crashed to 141 all out in 17.5 overs.

India have maintained their unbeaten record at Kingsmead against South Africa since 2007.

The second match of four is on Sunday at Gqeberha.

Samson hit his first T20 hundred less than a month ago, 111 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. On Friday, he hit 10 massive sixes and seven boundaries. The previous batsmen to score consecutive centuries were France’s Gustav Mckeon (2022), South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw (2022) and England’s Phil Salt (2023).

Samson shrugged off the loss of opening partner Abhishek Sharma for 7 by hitting 50 off 27 balls, including three fours and five sixes.

India scored 56-1 in the powerplay as Samson put on 66 off 37 balls with skipper Suryakumar Yadav (21).

Samson added another 77 off 34 with Tilak Varma who scored 33 off 18 balls.

Samson stole the show as he hit five more sixes to reach 100 off just 47 balls.

Samson became only the fourth Indian batsman to score two or more T20 hundreds after Rohit Sharma (5), skipper Yadav (4) and Lokesh Rahul (2).

His 10 sixes were the joint-highest by an India T20 batter, apart from Sharma against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Samson was finally taken out in the 16th over and India lost steam in the death overs. Hardik Pandya fell cheaply but Rinku Singh (11) just managed to push the total past 200.

Chasing a par-plus total, South Africa faltered at the start. Skipper Aiden Markram was out for 8, caught behind by Arshdeep Singh.

Avesh Khan sent back Tristan Stubb in the 11th over and the Proteas were down 30-2 in 3.3 overs.

Ryan Rickelton scored 21 off 11, but he fell in the last powerplay over, catching Chakravarthy.

Chakravarthy also ended a rescue effort between Heinrich Klaasen (25) and David Miller (18), who partnered for 42 off 37. Klaasen was caught in the 12th over and South Africa folded.

Four wickets fell for seven runs in just nine deliveries – the Proteast went from 86-3 to 93-7.

Gerald Coetzee hit three sixes in a consolation 23 off 11.

Chakravarthy picked 3-25 in four overs and Bishnoi took 3-28.

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