Rohit Sharma hit back to back sixes off Tim Southee’s last two balls in the Super Over to seal a dramatic win for India in the third T20I against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday.
The win also gave In🦩dia their maiden T20I series win New Zealand.
India needed 18 runs in Southee’s Over after Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill took 17 runs from Jasprit Bumrah’s Super Over. Rohit and Rahul struggled against Southee on the first three balls but the Indian vice-captain hit two massive sixes when 10 runs were needed off the last 2 balls. Credit must also be given to Mohammed Shami, who picked up the wickets of Kane Williamson (95) and Ross Taylor (17) in the last over to take the match into the Super Over.
New Ze🌞aland required 9 runs from the final over, Shami conceded a six off his first ball but came back strongly to dismiss Williamson and Taylor as the match ended up in a tie.
Earlier, Rohit was at his imperious best and then New Zealand hit back with quick wickets in the middle overs. The pitch slowed down and it started offering assistance to the spinners and the seamers who resorted to cutters. However, Pandey, Jadeja and Kohli added enough fuel in the tank𓆏 as India posted 179/5 on the board.
Here’s how the cricketing world reacted on Twitter
What an incredible wi𓂃n. Mohammad Shami exceptional to def♍end 2 of the last 4 balls in the main game and showing once again why he is one of the most dangerous batsman in the world. A match to remember for a long long time
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Brothaman you beauty ☝🏼
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12)
G🎃reat game of cricket and was ice cool to take us home in the super over.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
Aisa lagta hai apunich Bhagwan hai !
So fit for the way he has made impossible tasks possible.
But defending 2 runs of 4 balls was an unbelievable effort from Shami.
Yaadgaar hai yeh jeet— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Captain oh captain
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage)
Keep calm and trust – the Hitman! This Indian team is so full of men who can turn the game on their own! Bumrah has an off day, so raises his hand.
Congratulations on your first ever T20I series win in🌸෴ NZ
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
WHAT A MATCH! 🔥🔥 win in super over, take an unassailable lead of 3️⃣ – 0️⃣ in the 5-match series. 🇮🇳
— BCCI (@BCCI)
India win!
Rohit Sha♛rma hits the final two balls for six to win the game 🤯
— ICC (@ICC)
Great game! should have won that… my god. 2 runs from 4 balls and lose? Ouch. Well done Hit Man Rohit Sharma! 6!
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano)
Rohit hai tho mamla hit hai 🍸 great T20 series win.. congratulations team india 🇮🇳
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Dhamakedaar!
Lajawab!
Shaandar!
Snatched a win out of nowhere! Zabardasꦓt last over by a✨nd those two sixes by ne to dil jeet liya! 😍Absolutely amazing!
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
That must have been exciting:
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
10 needed off last two balls in super over and went for two sixes! What a thriller! Top efforts from Rohit, @klrahul11 , , and ot🅺hers.
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan)
Back to back 6!!!! What a game!
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops)
How did India win that match!!! Bumrah exceptional to get it to a super over and then Rohit and KL keep 𝓀us all on the edge of our seat. Amazing match. Feel for NZ who still haven’t won a Super Over since the WC Final.
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
Sorry meant Shami. The game wasܫ just too much to handle that I do🐬n’t know what I am typing 😬😬
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
