Indian National Cricket Team wicketkeeper and batsman Sanju Samson took a stunning catch behind the stumps to end Zimbabwe National Cricket Team player Faraz Akram’s cameo in the fifth and final T20I between the teams on Sunday, July 14 at the Harare Sports Club.
Sanju Samson recently won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with the Indian team and joined the team in Zimbabwe after the first two T20Is. As soon as he joined the team, he was included in the starting XI, replacing Dhruv Jurel.
Sanju Samson scored 12* in the third T20I and did not get a chance to bat in the fourth game as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill completed the chase with 10 wickets in hand. However, in the fifth T20I, India needed the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman to step up and he did not disappoint.
When the visitors found themselves in trouble, Sanju Samson added 65 runs with Riyan Parag in 56 balls and steadied the innings. Sanju Samson finished his innings with a score of 58 runs in 45 balls, with 1 four and 4 sixes, including a monstrous 110m hit.
Not just with the bat, Sanju Samson also did a great job for the team behind the stumps as he took two catches and was very accurate with his catches as usual. Samson’s best with the gloves came in the 19th over, which was bowled by pacer Mukesh Kumar.
On the second ball of the 19th over, the right-hander bowled a wide, full ball to Faraz Akram. The Zimbabwean player attempted a drive but only managed to get an outside edge as the ball flew towards the wicketkeeper. Sanju Samson made no mistake behind the stumps as he dove to his left and took a stunning catch to end Faraz Akram’s entertaining outing.
The Zimbabwean star scored 27 runs off 13 deliveries. His innings included 2 fours and 2 sixes and he kept his team in contention with his batting efforts.
Talking about Mukesh Kumar, the pacer dazzled with the ball as he dismissed four Zimbabwe batsmen in just 3.3 overs and gave away just 22 runs in his spell.
Watch: Sanju Samson makes an absolutely stunning catch (0:19)
Mukesh Kumar shines in the last T20I and takes a fantastic 4-fer 🔥#SonySportsNetwork #ZIMvIND #TeamIndia | @BCCI pic.twitter.com/hqkr77RjtM
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 14, 2024
Meanwhile, the Indian national cricket team crushed the hosts by 42 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the series 4-1. In the last T20I, it was Shivam Dube who won the Man of the Match award for his heroics with both bat and ball.
With the bat, Shivam Dube scored 26 runs off 12 balls and with the ball, he finished with the figures of 2/25. Shivam Dube, after winning the award, said that contributing his all-round performance in India’s victory is always special. He said:
“It’s always something special to contribute in both departments. I took a few wickets and I’m very happy. In T20s, you can struggle, but with one knock you can bounce back. The ground is great, we enjoy playing here, the atmosphere and the people are amazing.”
