Samson-Varma destructive centuries drive India to 283/1

Indian batters Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma powerfully thrashed the South African bowlers to set up the fifth-highest total in T20I history. 

After Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first at Johannesburg, powerful Indian top orders drove the team to 283/1 in 20 overs. 

Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma set up a dominant 73-run first-wicket partnership inside the powerplay. Sharma was caught behind just one ball before the powerplay completion after scoring 36 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes. 

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries

Then Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma’s powerful batting performances just destroyed the Proteas bowlers. Although there were some opportunities, South African fielders dropped those chances to only add to their disappointment. Their batting helped India score 283/1, which was India’s second-highest total and overall the fifth-highest total in T20I history. India’s highest T20I total is 297/6 against Bangladesh at Hyderabad last October. 

Sanju Samson completed his third T20I century in 51 balls. After Rohit Sharma (5 centuries) and Suryakumar Yadav (4 centuries), Samson became the third Indian to record three T20I centuries. Samson remained not out for 109 runs in 56 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes. 

On the other hand, Tilak Varma reached the century mark in 41 balls. It was his back-to-back T20I century. After Sanju Samson, Varma became the second Indian to record T20I centuries in two consecutive innings. Also, Varma became the fifth Indian to record multiple T20I hundreds. Varma scored 120 not out off just 47 balls with the help of nine fours and ten sixes. 

Samson-Varma had a record partnership in Indian cricket

Samson and Varma had a 210-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket. While it was the first 200-run partnership for India and the second wicket in T20I history, it was also the sixth-highest T20I partnership for any wicket. 

India hit their record number of sixes

Meanwhile, India hit 23 sixes in the innings. While it was their record sixes in a T20I innings, it was also the joint third most sixes in overall T20I innings history.