New Delhi: As Sanju Samson scripted history on Friday with a third century against South Africa, one of his sixes went on to hit a spectator at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
The incident took place in the second ball of the 10th over when he slog-swept Tristian Stubbs’ tossed for a second consecutive six. The ball cleared the ropes but bounced off the stadium railing. It then hit on the face of a girl standing barely a few meters from the ropes.
Sanju Samson must Gift his Bat or Pair of Gloves to Injured Fan Girl, that's my suggestion
But, that was like a Knockout Punch 🤕 from nowhere #INDvSA #SanjuSamsonpic.twitter.com/BeWLWuqaVb
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) November 15, 2024
As soon as the ball hit her, the girl broke in tears. A fellow spectator held an ice pack on her cheek. When Sanju realized that someone was injured, he put his hand up and sought apology from the lady. On Friday, Sanju was on a six-hitting spree. Tilak Varma and Sanju smashed 19 sixes in their unbeaten 210-run partnership for the second wicket. While Tilak smashed 10 maximums, Sanju hit 9.
Sanju helped India win the final T20I by 135 runs in Johannesburg. He also became the first player in the history of T20Is to smash three centuries in a calendar year. He is now only the second batter, after England’s Phil Salt to have scored two hundreds in a T20I series.
Samson now holds the third-most T20I centuries (three) by an Indian, surpassing KL Rahul’s record Only Rohit Sharma (four) and Suryakumar Yadav (three) have reached similar heights in the T20 format.
