Will try to make up for ‘two big shots’ in next match: Sanju Samson

Lucknow. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson said India missed out on a win in the first ODI against South Africa just for not playing “two big shots” and will try to make up for it in the next match. Samson played a blistering innings of 86 not out but despite this, the Indian team had to face defeat by nine runs in this rain-affected match.

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Apart from Samson, Shreyas Iyer contributed 50 and Shardul Thakur contributed 33 runs but India failed to reach the target of 250 runs in 40 overs. India scored 240 runs for eight wickets. Samson said in a post-match press conference, “I enjoy spending time at the crease especially playing for India. We were playing to win the match. I only missed two big shots. All we needed was a six and a four. I will try to make up for it in the next match but I am happy with my contribution.

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India needed 30 runs in the last over. Samson hit 20 runs off spinner Tabrez Shamsi with a six and three fours but it was not enough. He didn’t get a single ball to play in the 19th over and that’s probably what made the difference. Samson said, “The South African bowlers bowled really well but Tabrez Shamsi was proving to be a bit expensive and we thought we could target him. I knew he had one over left and if we needed 24 runs, I was sure I could hit four sixes. We wanted to try to win till the end. That was our strategy.”

It was raining continuously for the last three days in Lucknow due to which the pitch was initially damp and the bowlers were getting movement. Samson said, “You must have seen in the South African innings that it was not easy to score runs with the new ball. David Miller (75 not out) and Heinrich Klaasen (74 not out) batted really well after 15 overs. Then the ball was not moving and it was easy to bat after 15 to 20 overs. “I scored more than 80 runs but I also made mistakes. This is a lesson for all of us and we will try to make up for it in the next match.