Stats: Sanju Samson smashes fastest double hundred among Indians in List-A cricket

Damp squibs. Inclement weather. Swashbuckling hitting. Imperious bowling. Humdingers. One-sided affairs – The 2019-20 edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy is in full flow. After inclement weather dominated the first half of the season, we are now witnessing some pulsating cricket across the length and breadth of the country. 

With the tournament steadily approaching its business end, each and every game bores great importance with the results of every game having possible ramifications on those who aren’t involved as well.

The Round 11 Elite Group A & B encounter saw Kerala lock horns with Goa at the KSCA Ground in Alur. Both teams have had a dismal 2019-20 campaign thus far. While Kerala has managed just two victories in their five encounters, Goa, on the other hand, have managed just a solitary victory in the 5 matches they’ve played.

So, coming into his all-important encounter, both sides were in desperate need of an inspiring performance. Kerala started their innings on the worst possible note. The Southern side lost both of their openers- Robin Uthappa [10] and Vishnu Vinod [7]- within a space of 7.5 overs. Kerala needed an inspiring performance; something out of the ordinary; something brilliant to redeem what has been a disappointing campaign.

Records galore for a whirlwind Samson

Enter Sanju Samson. The Kerala batsman has always been in the limelight for his precocious talent, outrageous hitting skills. So-much-so that former cricketers like Gautam Gambhir have batted for him to be given a chance in India’s white-ball sides. Today, Kerala and Rajasthan Royals gave another account of his magnanimous talent. The right-hander shellacked the Goa bowlers to all corners of Alur, striking a whirlwind 129-ball 212*; an innings that included 21 fours and ten Brobdingnagian sixes.

Sanju Samson had Sachin Baby for company, who himself stroked a brilliant 135-ball 127, stitching a 338-run-stand for the third wicket. This was Samson’s maiden List-A hundred in 86-match career, and the right-hander proceeded to shellac a whole host of records in the process; none more prominent than him becoming the fastest Indian to score a List-A hundred and the third in the overall list.

Samson’s double-hundred came in just 125 balls. Samson is only spearheaded by Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Ben Duckett, both of whom reached their double-tons in 117 and 123 balls respectively.

Fastest double hundreds in List-A cricket (Where recorded)

(Stats updated till 12th October 2019)