Samson ton powers India to series sweep after record total

Opener Sanju Samson’s blistering century helped world champions India hammer Bangladesh in the final T20 on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0 after they posted the format’s highest total by a Test-playing nation of 297-6.
The hosts went past Afghanistan’s 278-3 against Ireland in 2019. The Indian total is the second highest in all T20 internationals after Nepal’s 314-3 against Mongolia at last year’s Asian Games in China. Samson hit 111 of 47 balls – his first T20 international ton – studded with 11 fours and eight sixes after India elected to bat first in Hyderabad.
In reply, Bangladesh managed 164-7 to go down by 133 runs in what was former skipper Mahmudullah Riyad’s last T20 for the nation. Mahmudullah made eight before he fell to speedster Mayank Yadav and walked off with a smile and pat on the back by India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
“We achieved a lot as a team,” said Suryakumar. “I want to have selfless cricketers. We want to enjoy each others’ success. We are having some fun.”
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh, who came on the India tour at the back of a two-Test sweep in Pakistan, were outplayed by the hosts as they lost the earlier Test series 2-0. “We didn’t play our best cricket,” said Najmul. “We didn’t execute our plans as a batting unit in all the three matches. We should believe in ourselves that we can compete.”
Samson, a wicketkeeper-batsman, stood out and named player of the match as he hammered leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for five straight sixes in an over en route to his ton in 40 balls. He put on 173 runs for the second wicket with Suryakumar, who hit 75 off 35 balls but his knock was overshadowed by his partner’s blitz and the mammoth total.
Samson finally fell to Mustafizur Rahman and walked back to a standing ovation by the weekend crowd. Suryakumar fell in the next over by Mahmudullah, who announced his retirement from the format ahead of the second match.
But there was more punishment in store for Bangladesh as new batters Hardik Pandya, who struck 47 off 18 balls and Riyan Parag, who made a 13-ball 34, kept up the charge with regular boundaries. India surpassed their previous best total of 260-5 against Sri Lanka in 2017 as they scored at nearly 15 runs an over.
Samson said his focus was always to stick to the basics of batting and take it one ball at a time. “The dressing room energy from the boys out means a lot - they have a lot of happiness for me and that I did well. It can get frustrating knowing what you can do out there, and I have also felt I can do much better,” he said.
“But by playing so many games I know how to deal with pressure and my failures because I have failed a lot. I just focused on the process and knew that I would do well. Playing for your country that pressure was there but I wanted to perform and wanted to show. But I still kept it basic and wanted to take it by one ball,” added Samson.
Bangladesh were never in the chase but wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das, who hit 42, and Towhid Hridoy, unbeaten on 63, attempted to put up a fight. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets including Litton and Najmul in his four overs.
Pandya was named player of the series for his 118 runs, one wicket and five catches in the three matches. Pandya lauded the team environment for giving him good space to execute his skills to the best. “The kind of freedom the skipper and coach have given is fantastic for the whole group. At the end of the day if you can enjoy the sport you can get the maximum out of yourself. When the dressing room is enjoying everyone’s success you feel like doing it more. Body has been fantastic, God has been kind to always come up and help me out. The process continues, nothing changes, good days or bad days. I thought shots like my shot over cover in the last over don’t come often but when they come it gives a lot of confidence,” Pandya said.
India’s Test team, led by Rohit Sharma, will now host New Zealand in a three-match series starting next week with the opener in Bengaluru.

Brief scores
India 297/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 111; Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/66) beat Bangladesh 164/7 in 20 overs (Towhid Hridoy 63*, Ravi Bishnoi 3/30) by 133 runs.