Samson’s 82 and Explosive Knocks Power India to 249/5
Sanju Samson's explosive 82 and quickfire knocks from Kishan and Iyer propel India to a massive 249/5 against West Indies in Ranchi.
India's batters unleashed a relentless assault at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, setting a daunting target of 250 runs for the West Indies. Driven by a blistering 82 from Sanju Samson and rapid contributions from Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Tilak Varma, the Indian side reached a formidable 249/5 in their 20 overs during the second T20I of the five-match series.
Samson and Kishan Set the Tone
After West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to bowl, the Indian openers looked to dominate from the outset. Although Abhishek Sharma fell early in the fourth over after a brisk 20 runs off 12 balls, Sanju Samson took complete control of the innings. Samson dismantled both the pace and spin attacks, reaching his half-century in just 21 deliveries.
Samson's innings was a masterclass in aggression, finishing with 82 runs off just 41 balls, a knock decorated with nine boundaries and four towering sixes. He found a perfect partner in Ishan Kishan, who struck a rapid 43 from 22 balls, including six fours and two sixes. The duo shared a massive 97-run partnership for the second wicket in just 43 balls, propelling India past the 100-run milestone by the ninth over.
West Indies Fight Back
The West Indies bowlers managed to find some breathing room when Roston Chase struck twice. Chase, who proved to be the most effective bowler for his side, dismissed both Kishan and Shivam Dube (7 off 10 balls), finishing with impressive figures of 3/24 in his four overs. Shamar Springer also made inroads by removing Samson in the 15th over.
Late Surge from Iyer and Varma
Despite the loss of wickets, India's middle order ensured the momentum stayed firmly with the hosts. Captain Shreyas Iyer, who had scored a century in the series opener, teamed up with Tilak Varma to keep the run rate soaring. The pair hammered 21 runs off Shamar Springer in the 18th over, pushing India to 215/4 by the end of that over.
The onslaught reached a fever pitch in the final over. Tilak Varma turned his aggression toward Shamar Springer, smashing three consecutive sixes to harvest 23 runs from the over. While Iyer was dismissed during that explosive sequence, Naman Dhir managed to hit a boundary on the final ball, helping India conclude their innings at 249/5. Aside from Chase, Shamar Springer was the only other bowler to take wickets, claiming two but conceding 64 runs in his four-over spell.