Samson century powers India to T20 series clean sweep after record total against Bangladesh

Home side post 297-6 before visitors struggle to 164-7 in 133-run defeat in Hyderabad

India's Ravi Bishnoi, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's Litton Das, who scored 42, during the home side's 133-run victory in the third and final T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 12, 2024. AFP

Bangladesh's Mohammad Mahmudullah, left, celebrates with Litton Das after taking the wicket of India's captain Suryakumar Yadav. It was Mahmudullah's final T20I after a record number of 20-over appearances for his country. AP

Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy on his way to top scoring for his side with 63 not out off 42 balls. AFP

India's Washington Sundar, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan Tamim. AP

India's Mayank Yadav, right, celebrates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck. AFP

India's Sanju Samson celebrates his century. AP

India's Sanju Samson, right, is congratulated by captain Suryakumar Yadav for his innings after his dismissal. AFP

India's Sanju Samson plays a shot on his way to scoring 111 off 47 deliveries. AFP

India's Abhishek Sharma is clean bowled by Bangladesh's Tanzim Hasan Sakib. AFP

Bangladesh's Tanzim Hasan Sakib celebrates after clean bowling India's Abhishek Sharma. AP

India's Suryakumar Yadav made 75. AP

Bangladesh's Tanzim Hasan Sakib celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India's Abhishek Sharma. AFP

Opener Sanju Samson's blistering century helped world champions India hammer Bangladesh in the final T20 on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0 after they posted the format's highest total by a Test-playing nation of 297-6.

The hosts went past Afghanistan's 278-3 against Ireland in 2019. The Indian total is the second highest in all T20 internationals after Nepal's 314-3 against Mongolia at last year's Asian Games in China.

Samson hit 111 of 47 balls – his first T20 international ton - studded with 11 fours and eight sixes after India elected to bat first in Hyderabad.

In reply, Bangladesh managed 164-7 to go down by 133 runs in what was former skipper Mahmudullah Riyad's last T20 for the nation.

Mahmudullah made eight before he fell to speedster Mayank Yadav and walked off with a smile and pat on the back by India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

Najmul Hossain Shanto's Bangladesh, who came on the India tour at the back of a two-Test sweep in Pakistan, were outplayed by the hosts as they lost the earlier Test series 2-0.

Samson, a wicketkeeper-batsman, stood out as he hammered leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for five straight sixes in an over en route to his ton in 40 balls.

He put on 173 runs for the second wicket with Suryakumar, who hit 75 off 35 balls but his knock was overshadowed by his partner's blitz and the mammoth total.

Samson finally fell to Mustafizur Rahman and walked back to a standing ovation by the weekend crowd.

Suryakumar fell in the next over by Mahmudullah, who announced his retirement from the format ahead of the second match.

But there was more punishment in store for Bangladesh as new batters Hardik Pandya, who struck 47 off 18 balls and Riyan Parag, who made a 13-ball 34, kept up the charge with regular boundaries.

India surpassed their previous best total of 260-5 against Sri Lanka in 2017 as they scored at nearly 15 runs an over.

Bangladesh were never in the chase but wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das, who hit 42, and Towhid Hridoy, unbeaten on 63, attempted to put up a fight.

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets including Litton and Najmul in his four overs.

After the match, India captain Suryakumar said: "We achieved a lot as a team. I want to have selfless cricketers. We want to enjoy each others' success. We are having some fun."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul said: "We didn't play our best cricket. We didn't execute our plans as a batting unit in all the three matches. We should believe in ourselves that we can compete."

India's Test team, led by Rohit Sharma, will now host New Zealand in a three-match series starting next week with the opener in Bengaluru.