India vs SA 3rd ODI | Samson's maiden ODI ton, Varma's patient fifty lead India to 296 for eight

Sanju Samson carved a well-measured maiden ODI hundred as India posted a challenging 296 for eight against South Africa in the series-deciding third match here on Thursday.

Sanju Samson carved a well-measured maiden ODI hundred as India posted a challenging 296 for eight against South Africa in the series-deciding third match here on Thursday.

Samson (108 off 114 balls) found a perfect sidekick in the patient Tilak Varma, who struck his first ODI fifty (52 off 77 balls), as they milked 116 precious runs for the fourth-wicket to place India in a position to win this series.

Samson and Varma came together when India were slightly wobbling at 101 for three after being asked to bat first.

But the pair showed excellent situational awareness.

Their partnership was all about pragmatism without letting go of any opportunity to unfurl any big shot.

Usually a free-flowing hitter, Samson shelved his macho intentions for a large part of his innings, concentrating on singles and twos as the Boland Park pitch also had this slight bite on it.

But the right-hander intermittently brought out his T20 avatar into play like when he smashed pacer Nandre Burger for a big six over mid-wicket or while executing an exquisite inside-out loft over cover off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for a four.