In a bizarre incident during the first T20I between South Africa and India in Durban, Sanju Samson was involved in a heated conversation with South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen during the Proteas’ run chase.
Samson had earlier smashed a second consecutive century in T20Is to script a record, becoming the first Indian batter to do so and the fourth overall world-wide.
Also Read: Sanju Samson scripts history! Becomes the first Indian to achieve this feat
The wicketkeeper-batter cemented his place at the top of the order in the shortest format of the game with his back-to-back hundreds, but the most dramatic moment of his time in the middle came in the second innings.
While South Africa’s run chase was on, Jansen was batting and the ball that went to the deep was thrown to the keeper’s end. Samson stepped forward to the middle of the pitch to collect the ball, irking Jansen, who made a comment at the Indian wicketkeeper.
Samson was heard chirping back at Jansen over the stump mic. The proceedings soon took a turn for the worse as Suryakumar Yadav stepped in. Gerald Coetzee, Jansen’s batting partner, also joined in on the action as the three players had a mid-pitch heated conversation alongside Samson.
The situation was soon diffused and Jansen, still seething from the altercation, smashed Ravi Bishnoi for a six over mid-wicket next ball. He went on to attempt a wild reverse sweep next ball, only for Hardik Pandya to drop a tough catch.
Jansen was, however, dismissed next ball as Bishnoi and India had the last laugh.
In their first meeting after the men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, India were dominant with the bat and ruthless with the ball. Samson’s brilliant ton helped India to a terrific start, but South Africa made an impressive comeback with Jansen and Coetzee playing a significant part.
In the final six overs, the Proteas conceded just 40 runs as India found scoring tough after Samson’s departure.
Finishing on 202, the game was still in the balance, but South Africa struggled to stitch together partnerships as India reduced the hosts to 44/3. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen stepped in to build a partnership but the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Bishnoi made life difficult for the South African big hitters.
Eventually, the duo were dismissed in quic succession as South Africa went from 86/3 to 93/7.
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