India wicket-keeper Sanju Samson has been getting words of appreciation from all corners for his brilliant save behind the wicket in the last over of West Indies’ chase during the first ODI at the Queen’s Park Oval that was crucial and significant in helping India win the match and take a lead in the 3-match series.
Romario Shepherd was on a rampage as he took down the Indian bowlers in the death overs in his side’s pursuit of 309. He brought down the final over equation to 15 runs required off 6 balls, and further chiselled it down to 8 runs off the last 2 balls when Mohammed Siraj bowled a leg-side wide as he followed Shepherd moving on the leg-side but overdid his delivery.
Sanju Samson made a big save in the last over
The ball missed Shepherd by a distance and was likely to race away for four but for Sanju Samson, who had shrewdly anticipated the delivery early on and moved to his left quickly before putting a full-length dive with his left hand outstretched. Fortunately, Samson managed to get his hand to the ball and stop it from going to a certain boundary.
You can watch this excellent save by Samson here:
Here you are! pic.twitter.com/oqUni3kO2N
— Jisha Arya (@Jishaaryadraws) July 22, 2022
This meant West Indies then needed 7 runs off the last 2 balls instead of 3 had Samson not saved this boundary.
Fortunuately for India, Siraj then kept his calm and nailed his yorkers and conceded only three runs in the last two balls to give India the win.
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra observed that wicket-keeper Samson’s boundary save was absolutely critical in India winning the game. Chopra feels without that, the hosts would have won the match.
“Sanju Samson’s stop was the difference in the end. 100% boundary. And that would’ve been Game Windies,” Aakash Chopra tweeted soon after the game had ended.
Sanju Samson’s stop was the difference in the end. 100% boundary. And that would’ve been Game Windies.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 22, 2022
Samson was good with the gloves in the game but again faltered with the bat in hand. Given the opportunity ahead of Ishan Kishan, Samson smashed Akeal Hosein for a flat six over mid-wicket but then soon fell to Shepherd, and managed only 12 runs off 18 balls and was part of the middle-order fumble during India’s innings.
Since Samson is dropped from the T20I squad for the following 5 T20Is against West Indies, he should make his opportunities in the remaining two ODIs count to make a statement for being part of the side going forward.
The second ODI between the two teams is slated for Sunday at the same venue, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.
