Needing just 35 runs to become the leading run-scorer in the T20I format, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma (2,288 runs) surpassed Kiwi star batsman Martin Guptill (2,272 runs) to attain the milestone as India outplayed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 International match, leveling the three match series 1-1.
Not only that, Sharma’s second fifty Eden Park helped him surpass Kohli (19 T20I fifties) to attain the most number of fifty-plus scores in the shortest format of the game. The 31-year-old now has scored 20 fifty-plus scores in T20Is.
The Mumbai batsman is now the only Indian batsman to smash 100 sixes in T20Is and the third cricketer to hit 100 T20I sixes with Chris Gayle and Guptill top on the list with 103 sixes.
Chasing 159, the Indian openers --Rohit and Dhawan-- played fearlessly and in no time the duo slammed 79 runs in 9.2 overs before Rohit was dismissed by spinner Ish Sodhi.
Rohit played brilliant shots all around the park to complete his half century. The Mumbai batsman played 29 balls and slammed three boundaries and four sixes.
For India, Krunal scalped three wickets while Khaleel Ahmed picked up two.
Brief scores: New Zealand: 158/8 (Colin de Grandhomme 50, Ross Taylor 42; Krunal Pandya 3/28) against India: 162/3 (Rohit Sharma 50; Lockie Ferguson 1/31, Ish Sodhi 1/31)