Having blasted his way to three figures in a chase of 222, Samson found himself on strike with the Royals requiring five from two and his side’s record-signing Chris Morris at the other end.

On 119, Samson hit the ball into the deep on the off-side but turned down the opportunity for at least a single, with Morris racing back to the non-striker’s end after he had begun running towards the other.

Samson’s decision meant he had to hit a six off the final ball of the innings to win the game outright, but he fell just short, finding the fielder at wide long-off to depart from the last ball of Arshdeep Singh’s over.

In a column for the Hindustan Times, Samson opened up on what unfolded during the latter stages of the match, explaining that it was made clear between the batting pair that Samson would be taking most of the strike.

“I know everyone wants to know if I spoke to Chris after I kept the strike for the final ball against Punjab,” Samson wrote. “To begin with, we were talking while the situation was unfolding itself. So, just before the 19th over began, we made it clear that I will be taking most of the strike; that even if I couldn’t hit a four or a six, we would be looking for twos to get me back on strike.

“It was only natural that we would be doing the same in the final over as well. This was clear to Morris, me and the team management. Therefore, no, I did not have to go to him after the game and explain myself for not taking the single off the penultimate ball – it was absolutely clear to both of us.”