Watch: Sanju Samson smoked three sixes in his first 13 balls at the crease in the third ODI against West Indies en route to a 39-ball 50 at the Brain Lara Stadium in Trinidad yesterday (August 1).

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After a morale-boosting victory in the second ODI, the hosts won the toss and sent India in to bat again in the third, hoping to make early inroads and restrict them to a below-par total. Quite the opposite happened as almost everyone in the Indian batting order chipped in to take them to their highest ODI total against West Indies in West Indies: 351-5.

Samson, who had made nine off 19 balls in the second ODI, came in at No.4 this time at the fall of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s wicket with the score reading 154-2 after 23 overs. He had the time to get his eye in and get settled before launching, but being the team man and intent merchant that he is, he went after the bowling from the very first ball.

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The first ball he faced was a short one by leg spinner Yannic Cariah, which he rocked back and pulled over mid-wicket. Poor connection meant the ball plugged in the outfield to give him two runs. Off his next three balls, he smashed two sixes down the ground, one towards long on and one towards long off, both of full deliveries, showcasing a complete absence of fear.

By his 12th delivery, he had reached 20. Having got a start, it was another opportunity for him to cut down on risk and aim for a big score, especially given the irregular chances he gets. Instead, he did the opposite, flicking a full ball on leg stump by Jayden Seales over mid-wicket for his third six in his first 13 balls.

Samson reached his fifty off 39 balls and holed out at mid-off soon after trying to clear the fielder. His knock of 51 off 41 balls at a strike rate of 124.39 was the second-fastest 50-plus score by an Indian at No.4 in ODIs since 2020. India eventually won the game by a massive margin of 200 runs.

Watch Samson’s three sixes off his first 13 balls in the third West Indies v India ODI:

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