Samson's counterattack puts India D back on track

Sanju Samson’s counter-attacking 89 headlined the play from Match 5 of the ongoing Duleep Trophy between India B and India D in Anantapur. Walking in to bat during a period of slight stutter in the innings, Samson lifted India D from 175/4 to finish Day 1 at 306/5. 

Samson batted at a strike rate of 107.2, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 89 off 83 balls. This is Samson’s highest score in first-class cricket since December 2022, when he scored 82 against Rajasthan. Samson’s last first-class hundred came nearly five years ago — 116 vs Bengal in December 2019 – and he would like to end that long wait tomorrow. 

Earlier in the day, India D made a good start after being asked to bat. Both openers, Devdutt Padikkal (50) and KS Bharat (52), scored half-centuries, forging a 100-plus opening stand. However, none of them carried on to bat big and India D lost back-to-back wickets to slide to 119/2. They again lost wickets in quick successions when Nishant Sindhu (19) and Shreyas Iyer (0) fell one after the other. Ricky Bhui (56) also couldn’t convert his fifty into a big score. 

Rahul Chahar picked 3/60 as India D slipped to 216/5. Samson then found support in Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain. The duo added unbeaten 90 for the sixth wicket putting India D back on track for a 400-plus total. While Samson dealt in boundaries, Saransh was solid at the other end, contributing 26 off 56 balls. 

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