Kolkata: Cometh the hour cometh the man.
The enigmatic Sanju Samson, a man who has not always done justice to his immense batting skills and was not even part of the playing XI at the start of the T20 World Cup, chose a big night to show what he is capable of.
Chasing a stiff target of 196 in a virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies, Samson guided India home with a spectacular unbeaten 97 off 50 balls, studded with 12 sparkling fours and four sweetly-timed sixes.
In the semifinals, India will face England at Wankhede Stadium on March 5, after South Africa take on New Zealand at Eden Gardens on March 4.
Samson lost fellow-opener Abhishek Sharma (10) and another left-handed powerhouse Ishan Kishan (10) as India slipped to 41/2 in the fifth over.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav aka SKY played second fiddle to Samson in
a crucial 58-run partnership, and then Tilak Varma stroked a brilliant 27 off 15 balls (4×4, 1×6). Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube provided Samson enough support for the men in blue to cross the line with four balls to spare.
The 31-year-old Samson, who scored his first half-century in any World Cup, paced his knock and the chase to perfection. As an icing on the cake, he sealed victory with a six and four off Romario Shepherd.
It was the highest score by an Indian in a successful chase in a T20 World Cup, surpassing Virat Kohli’s identical 82s versus Australia and Pakistan.
Samson’s celebration – sinking on his knees, taking off the helmet and thanking the Almighty – said it all.
BRIEF SCORES
West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37*; Jasprit Bumrah 2/36).
India 199/5 in 19.2 overs (Sanju Samson 97 not out, Tilak Varma 27; Jason Holder 2/38, Shamar Joseph 2/42).
Result: India won by 5 wickets.
Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
SEMIFINAL LINEUP
March 4: South Africa vs New Zealand (Kolkata, 7 pm).
March 5: India vs England (Mumbai, 7 pm).