IPL 2019: Sanju Samson Joins Elite List After Scoring Ton Against Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mar 30, 2019 at 2:48 PM
Sanju Samson, on Friday, scored the first century of this year’s Indian Premier League. The Rajasthan Royals star scored an unbeaten 102 against the formidable bowling lineup of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting first, the Royals were off to a disastrous start with their star opener Jos Buttler departing in only the fourth over.
Samson then joined Ajinkya Rahane in the middle as the two started the repair work. Samson and Rahane steadied the ship, taking no risks at all early on. As a result, the Royals could score only 35 runs in the powerplay. But with the passage of time, the two started playing their shots and the runs flowed. The two shared 119 runs for the second wicket before Rahane departed after scoring 70.
Samson, however, went on make full use of the start. He slammed 24 runs in the 18th over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar to race away to 85 from 61 in a space of six balls. The right-hander went on to complete his century in the final over, helping Royals post a daunting total of 198 for 2.
It was Samson’s first century for the Royals and second overall. He had scored his maiden IPL hundred in 2017 while playing for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).
Samson’s special day, however, was ruined as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down the total to win the game by 5 wickets. Opening batsman David Warner led the foundation for the chase by slamming 69 off just 37 balls while adding 110 runs with fellow opener Jonny Bairstow. The Sunrisers eventually chased down the total with one over remaining.
Samson, nonetheless, ended up creating an incredible milestone. The Kerala star has now joined an elite list of Indian batsmen with more than one IPL hundred. While Virat Kohli (4) has the most hundreds by an Indian batsman, only Murali Vijay (2) and Virender Sehwag (2) are the only other Indians with more than one hundred in the IPL.
First 💯 for @IamSanjuSamson in Vivo @IPL
First 💯 of #VivoIPL2019
1⃣ Sam-sational knock 💗💗💗💗💗💗#HallaBol #SRHvRR #RR pic.twitter.com/n68EjQVh05— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 29, 2019
Here is a list showing most centuries in IPL:
Player | Centuries |
Chris Gayle | 6 |
Virat Kohli | 4 |
Shane Watson | 4 |
David Warner | 3 |
AB de Villiers | 3 |
Brendon McCullum | 2 |
Virender Sehwag | 2 |
Murali Vijay | 2 |
Adam Gilchrist | 2 |
Sanju Samson | 2 |
Hashim Amla | 2 |