Hamilton: Rohit Sharma on Wednesday achieved another feat as he breached 10,000 international runs as an opener across all the three formats of the game and joined an elite list of batsmen to have done so. He achieved the feat during the third T20I against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
The Mumbai batsman is the only batsman on the list to average over 50. In 219 innings Rohit has amassed 10,117 runs, averaging 50.33.
Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are the other three Indian batsmen to have achieved the feat.
In the ongoing T20I rubber against the Kiwis, Rohit failed in the first two matches, after scoring just 7 and 8 runs respectively but made an excellent comeback in the third game of the series, as he slammed his half-century in only 23 deliveries.
Rohit made a sparkling 40-ball 65 against the Kiwis. His knock was laced with six boundaries and three hits into the stands.
Meanwhile, India defeated New Zealand in a thrilling super over in the third T20I to take unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
After both sides ended with the same score (179) in the allotted 20 overs, New Zealand came to bat first in the super over, and posted a target of 18 runs for India. Virat Kohli led side scored three runs on the first two balls. With 14 runs required from 3 balls, Rohit smashed two sixes on the last two balls propelling India to a victory.
Chasing 180, Blackcaps started the chase in great fashion as Martin Guptill and Colin Munro put on 47 runs stand for the first wicket. However, Shardul Thakur dismissed Guptill (31), who was looking good at crease.
Ravindra Jadeja in his first over of the innings removed Munro (14) in the seventh over, reducing the side to 52-2.
Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner, who was promoted up the order, put on a 36 run stand for the third wicket. In the 11th over, Yuzvendra Chahal cleaned bowled Santner (9).
Williamson looked in sublime touch as he racked up a half-century in just 28 balls. Williamson alongside Colin de Grandhome kept the required run-rate under control, keeping the host alive in the run chase.
In the 16th over, New Zealand lost its fourth wicket in the form of Grandhome (5). Williamson and Ross Taylor put on 41 runs stand for the fifth wicket.
With just nine required in last over, Mohammed Shami came to bowl and dismissed the well-set Williamson (95) on the third bowl of the over. With fall of the skipper, Blackcaps required just 2 runs off 3 balls but Shami gave just one run and clean bolwed Taylor on the last bowl, which ultimately pushed the match to super over.
