The veteran Indian opener, Rohit Sharma smashed the New Zealand fast bowler, Hamish Bennett for three sixes and a couple of fours as the visitors got off to a flier in the third T20I match of the five-match series at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Wednesday. Rohit was dismissed for single-digit scores in the first two matches of the series, 7 and 8, in Auckland. But the Hitman decided to go berserk in the third match.
In the sixth over, his opening partner KL Rahul took a single off the first ball then, then the Mumbaiker took over in fascinating style. Batting at 24 off 18 balls, Rohit swiveled the second ball for the first six, over backward square leg. He played a lofted drive to make in two sixes in two balls.
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The sixes It was followed by back-to-back fours — first, by playing over the backward point, then with a skillful touch to beat the fielder behind square. He finished the over with a third six, over the bowler’s head.
Here is the video of Rohit smashing the bowler:
https://twitter.com/barainishant/status/1222427769897914369
With the six on the last bowl, Sharma completed a fifty in 23 balls. This was his joint-second fastest T20I fifty. His fastest came off 22 balls, against the West Indies at Lauderhill in 2016. He also became the second-fastest opener to reach 10,000 international runs, breaching the mark in just 219 innings. He already holds the record for the most sixes in T20Is.
However, it was Bennett, who came back in the 11th over to dismiss Rohit as Tim Southee took a catch at long-on. Rohit made 65 off 40 balls. In the same over, Bennett also claimed the wicket of prompted Shivam Dube (3 off 7), caught at third man by Ish Sodhi ion the same over.
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Earlier, the New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first. While India made no change in the squad, the hosts replaced Blair Tickner with Scott Kuggeleijn. India are poised to win their first-ever T20I series win in New Zealand. Having already won the first two matches, Virat Kohli and his men need one win from the three matches to achieve the feat.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Rohit knock:
https://twitter.com/imselvaofficial/status/1222425946357035008
https://twitter.com/being__loyal/status/1222423871485120518
#RohitSharma innings so far
First 18 balls: 24 runs
Next 5 balls: 26 runs
🔥
#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/7soRBDmshM— rajnishsingh (@rajnish_am) January 29, 2020
Rohit is on fire🔥🔥🔥
Last over of powerplay :-
Bennett to @ImRo45
1,6,6,4,4,6 ( 27 runs)Ind: 72-0
🇮🇳🇮🇳
*Rohit :- 52(26)
5-4s, 3-6s, 200sr
*Rahul :- 25(16)
2-4s, 1-6s, 150+ sr.🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳#NZvIND
— Divyansh Sharma (@divyanxsh) January 29, 2020
The 26 runs Ro-Hitman is bringing up his fantastic fifty (1,6,6,4,4,6).👏 What kind of a match. The second fastest fifty by Rohit Sharma. It's 50* in 23 balls. 🇮🇳💙 #NZvIND @ImRo45 @BCCI pic.twitter.com/26EomANEWk
— Harneet Singh (@singhaliyan) January 29, 2020
Rohit's Half Century Today (50 off 23 Balls)
First 18 balls: 24 runs
Next 5 balls: 26 runs#NZvIND #RohitSharma— Ankan Kar (@AnkanKar) January 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/OVIN_KAUSHALYA/status/1222422409149669376
