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Rohit Sharma, fondly known as the ‘Hitman’, showed his class on this day, 28 January 2020, by hitting back-to-back sixes in two deliveries off Tim Southee’s final two balls of the Super Over when India needed 10 runs to win the match. Rohit Sharma was also named “Player of the Match” for his 65 in the first inning and 15 runs in the Super Over.
Confident Team India, entered the match with a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. They put a total of 179/5 in the third T20I in Hamilton, thanks to Rohit’s 65-run knock and Virat Kohli’s 38 runs in the inning. Kiwis started well with captain Kane Williamson scoring 95, but they could not cross the finish line, and the match got tied as Mohammad Shami bowled a superb last over.
The match followed in the Super Over, and in-form Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill came out to bat against Jasprit Bumrah. With Williamson’s six, a four, and a last-ball boundary from Guptill, the hosts set a target of 18 runs for India to chase in the Super Over.
Rohit Sharma's back-to back sixes helped India seal T20I series against new Zealand in Hamilton
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul came out to bat for India in the Super Over against Tim Southee. Rohit took the strike but was not able to connect on the first two balls and got only three runs. However, KL smashed a boundary on the third ball and got a single in the next delivery.
Now India needed 10 off the last two deliveries, and Rohit Sharma smashed a six over a wide long-on boundary as Southee missed the yorker. With India needing three runs to tie and four to win, the Mumbai batter once again lofted inside out over the long-off boundary for six to win the Super Over and get an unassailable lead in the series.
Rohit Sharma was named “Player of the Match” for his heroic performance in the match, and India got the 3-0 lead and eventually won the series 5-0.
