The visiting side India has levelled the T20I series by winning the second game of the series at Eden Park (Auckland) on Friday (8 February). Currently, the three-match T20I series is leveled by 1-1 with one to go.
After deciding to bat first, New Zealand managed to score 158/8 in 20 overs. In reply, India comfortably chased the target in 18.5 overs after losing just three wickets.
Brief Score: New Zealand – 158/8 in 20 overs (Colin de Grandhomme 50, Ross Taylor 42; Krunal Pandya 3/28)
India – 162/3 in 18.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 50, Rishabh Pant 40*; Daryl Mitchell 1/15)
Result – India won by seven wickets
Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:
(1st innings)
Fifth-wicket partnership
i) New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme put a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
- It was the highest fifth-wicket T20I partnership against India. The previous record was the 65-run partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh) at Colombo (RPS) on 14 March 2018.
- It was also New Zealand’s second highest T20I partnership for the fifth-wicket against any team. The record is the 81-run unbroken partnership between Kane Williamson and Colin de Grandhomme against Bangladesh at Napier on 3 January 2017.
ii) Ross Taylor was run-out for the ninth time in his T20I career.
- Ross Taylor ran himself out for the 9th time in T20Is, Which is the joint most for a batsman along with Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad.
(2nd innings)
Rohit Sharma
i) Indian skipper Rohit Sharma completed his half-century in 28 balls.
- It was the second-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian captain. Rohit Sharma also holds this record with a 23-balls half-century against Sri Lanka at Indore on 22 December 2017.
ii) Rohit Sharma played his 20th 50+ innings in T20I career.
- Rohit Sharma now has most 50+ scores in T20Is. Virat Kohli (India) is in the next position in this list with 19 50+ innings in T20I career.
iii) By the end of the match, Indian opener Rohit Sharma has reached 2,288 T20I runs.
- Most runs for a batsman in T20I career. During this game, Rohit Sharma surpassed the previous top two batsmen in this list – Shoaib Malik (2,263 T20I runs) and Martin Guptill (2,272 T20I runs).
iv) By the end of the match, Rohit Sharma has hit 102 T20I sixes.
- Rohit Sharma became the third batsman to hit 100 or more T20I sixes. The first two batsmen in this list are Chris Gayle (Windies) and Martin Guptill (New Zealand) and both have hit 103 sixes in T20Is
v) By the end of the match, Rohit Sharma has hit 349 sixes in international cricket.
- As an Indian batsman, Rohit Sharma hit the most number of international sixes. He surpassed MS Dhoni (India/Asia XI) in this list who has hit 348 international sixes.
India’s victory
vi) India won the match by seven wickets.
- It was India’s first T20I victory against New Zealand outside the Indian soil.
- India’s first T20I victory against New Zealand while chasing a target.
- In overall, India’s third T20I victory against New Zealand.
vii) India’s 37th T20I victory while chasing.
- Most number of T20I victories for a team while chasing. Pakistan is in the second position with 36 T20I victories while chasing.