Sanju Sunday in Karyavattom

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special century in front of 11,000 spectators in Kariyavattom Greenfield Stadium on Sunday. What better way to announce your arrival at KCL? Local boy and Indian international Sanju Samson did it in style.

Kochi surpassed Kollam’s giant score of 236 with five wickets remaining. Sanju smashed 14 fours and seven sixes in 51 balls while Mohammed Ashiq scored 45 runs in 18 balls, including five sixes and three fours.

Batting first, Sachin Baby (91) and Vishnu Vinod (94) put on the tournament's highest score of 236/5 in the stipulated 20 overs for Kollam Sailors. Abhishek Nair (11) was dismissed in the third over, and Sachin and Vishnu put on a partnership of 143 runs. Vishnu Vinod hit three fours and 10 sixes in 41 balls, while Sachin Baby hit six fours and sixes in 44 balls.

• Sanju hit a boundary off the very first ball and scored 14 runs in the first over, including two fours and a six.

• In the third over, he hit four consecutive fours against Sharafuddin.

• In the fourth over, he hit a six and three fours against Biju Narayanan.

• Sanju completed his half-century in just 16 balls.

• In the sixth over, he scored 22 runs against Sharafuddin, including two fours and two sixes.

• Sanju reached his century in just 42 balls.