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

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Sanju Samson became just the fourth batsman to score consecutive hundreds in Twenty20 International cricket when he stopped 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 maintained their unbeaten record at Kingsmead against South Africa since 2007.

The second of four games takes place on Sunday in Gqeberha.

Samson scored 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 batters to score consecutive centuries were France’s Gustav Mckeon (2022), South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw (2022) and England’s Phil Salt (2023).

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

India made it 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 another five sixes and reached 100 in 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 ten sixes were the most for an India T20 batsman alongside Sharma against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Samson was finally caught in the 16th over and India lost momentum in the death overs. Hardik Pandya fell favorably but Rinku Singh (11) just managed to take the total above 200.

In their search for a par-plus total, South Africa faltered early on. Skipper Aiden Markram was out with 8 points and was caught behind Arshdeep Singh.

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

Ryan Rickelton scored 21 of 11 points but fell on the final power play and was intercepted by Chakravarthy.

Chakravarthy also completed a save between Heinrich Klaasen (25) and David Miller (18), who combined to score 42 out of 37 points. Klaasen was caught in the 12th over and South Africa were eliminated.

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

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

Chakravarthy scored 3-25 and Bishnoi 3-28 in four overs.

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