Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson left everyone utterly stunned with his batting heroics on Sunday. Playing for India D against India A, Samson played a quick knock of 40 off 45 and kept his side in the mammoth chase of 488. On Day 4 of the second round match, India D needed 426 runs more to win with Ricky Bhui and Yash Dubey standing unbeaten at the crease at 62/1. Bhui and Dubey’s partnership kept India D in the game but Shams Mulani helped India A to bounce back. 

After losing Dubey’s wicket for 37, India D also lost Devdutt Padikkal cheaply. However, skipper Shreyas Iyer stitched a valuable partnership with Bhui, before getting dismissed for 41 by Mulani.

Then, Samson stepped in to bat at no 6 and changed the momentum of the game. The Rajasthan Royals skipper began his hitting with a beautiful boundary off Tanush Kotian. 

Getting into the groove early

Stepping out & smashing down the ground.

Sanju Samson has played some cracking shots so far #DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match: https://t.co/m9YW0Hu10f pic.twitter.com/i965bytcvI

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 15, 2024

He then went on to smash a six against Mulani and then hit a boundary and a maximum in the 57th over of Kotian. However, his powerful knock came to an end in the 61st over when Kotian got the better of him. 

Samson tried to play a defensive shot but the ball found a faint outside edge and was caught by Kumar Kushagra. 

Talking about the match, Bhui smashed a century and standing solid for India D in the massive run-chase. 

Earlier on Day 3, Tilak Varma and Pratham made smooth hundreds to drive India A to a commanding position against India D.

Varma did no harm to his ambitions of keeping himself visible in the India scheme of things with an unbeaten 111 (193 balls, 9×4), while Pratham made an impressive 122 (189 balls, 12×4, 1×6) as India A declared their second innings closed at 380 for three. 

It gave them an overall lead of 487, and India D chiselled off 62 from the target of 488 for the loss of Atharva Taide.

With PTI Inputs