Indian batter Sanju Samson played a valiant knock of 86 runs in the first ODI against South Africa at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday. Chasing a par score of 250 runs, India found themselves in a quagmire at 51-4.
However, Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson were able to get their team back into the team. Iyer took an aggressive approach and he was able to get going despite India’s precarious situation.
Samson, on the other hand, took some time before he found his timing on a difficult pitch, which had a lot of assistance for the fast bowlers as well the spinners.
However, Samson showed his stomach for the fight as he kept India in the contest. India needed 30 runs in the final over, which was bowled by Tabraiz Shamsi. The flamboyant batte was able to put the wrist spinner under pressure after he scored 15 runs in the first three balls but could not find a boundary on the fourth ball.
Sanju Samson said while talking in the post-match press conference, “It is always nice to spend some time in the middle and we always play to take our team over the line. I missed connecting two shots, next time I will work even harder. But I am satisfied with my contribution.”
“Their bowlers were going about things nicely, Tabraiz Shamsi was a little expensive today so we felt we can target them. We knew he would bowl the last over, I knew if I had to get 24 runs in the final over, I can hit four sixes. I was taking the game deep, the plan was this only and the batters responded nicely,” said Samson.
Samson’s 86 is his highest ODI score and he will look to continue the good show for the team in the upcoming matches.
The wicket-keeper batter also heaped praise on David Miller, who continued his good form to score a fine knock of 75 runs. Samson feels Miller is currently the best finisher in the world.
“We have some space to improve but we also need to look at the batters we are bowling too. I think David Miller is the best finisher in the world at the moment, bowling against him on this ground was very challenging,” said Samson.
The second ODI will be played at Ranchi on Sunday.
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