Indian wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson entered a star-studded list of batters after ripping apart Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain for five sixes in an over in the third T20I on Saturday, October 12. Samson, whose bat didn't do much talking in the first two games, turned on a butcher mode in the third game.
The Rajasthan Royals skipper was in sensational touch in the third game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and brought up his fifty in only 22 balls. He rocketed up his speed after fifty as he took down the leg-spinner Rishad for five consecutive sixes.
After missing the first ball, he deposited all the next five deliveries into the stands. His first four maximums came straight down the ground, over the bowler's head or on either side of him and one came to deep mid-wicket.
Watch Samson smashing Rishad all the way through:
The wicket-keeper batter has joined an elite list of players with the most runs in an over in T20Is. Samson is only the second Indian to hit 30 or more runs in an over. Moreover, he finds himself in an elite list of players with five or more consecutive sixes in an over.
Players with the most consecutive sixes in an over (Top 10 teams):
1 - Yuvraj Singh: 6 consecutive sixes
2 - David Miller: 5 consecutive sixes
3 - Kieron Pollard: 5 consecutive sixes
4 - Sanju Samson: 5 consecutive sixes
Samson went on to smash a century and became the first Indian wicketkeeper with a triple-digit score in the format. He got to his hundred in 40 balls and departed for 111 from 47 deliveries. Samson and Suryakumar Yadav put up a massive stand of 173 runs in the second innings. India went on to smash the highest T20I score by a full-member team as they got to 297/6 in their 20 overs.
Earlier, captain Suryakumar won the toss and decided to bat first. The hosts made one change, bringing in Ravi Bishnoi for Arshdeep Singh. "We would like to bat first, looks like a good wicket. These are the things we want to do. Set a target and defend the total with dew around. I think it's important to continue with the good habits, it will have a good impact on us. We just want to give freedom, the guys want to make an impact. Happy with the way the guys are playing. Arshdeep misses out, Bishnoi comes in," SKY said at the toss.
