Kolkata, Nov 21 (UNI) Captain Rohit Sharma smashed a brilliant fifty and back-end flourish by Deepak Chahar, scoring 21 runs off 8 balls, saw India post 184 for 7 in the third and final T20I match against New Zealand at Eden Gardens here on Sunday.
Rohit and Ishan Kishan gave a rollicking start, as both the openers showed signs of aggression from the very first over. But, Suryakumar Yadav (0) and Rishabh Pant (4) did not have any fun as they perished cheaply.
Rohit was probably frustrated that he could not go past Virat Kohli as the highest run-getter in T20Is as he departed. He fell 21 runs short to surpass Kohli's tally of 3227 runs. The opener now has a tally of 3197 runs in his 119-match T20I career.
After India won the toss and opted to bat, Ishan and Rohit hit boundaries that served to stimulate the scoresheets. Ishan played two cracking boundaries off Trent Boult in the very first over which gave him the push.
They added 69 for the first wicket in just 38 balls, with the boundaries regularly being peppered. Ishan manoeuvred the ball effectively, using his feet to create opportunities, while it was more stand and deliver for Rohit.
The Mumbaikar got off to a flyer, but his vintage signs came to light when he struck two boundaries and a six in sixth over from Lockie Ferguson, who leaked 20 runs in his over. From thereon it didn’t really matter what the Kiwis threw at him as Rohit went past his 26th T20I half-century.
Ish Sodhi finally enticed a big shot from Rohit (56 from 31 balls), who reached for the wider ball and was caught and bowled. Thereafter, there was a mini batting collapse when India were reduced to 103 for 4, but Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer had a decent stand to rebuild the innings.
Boult had Venkatesh Iyer (20 off 15 balls) caught by Mark Chapman. Adam Milne then grabbed Shreyas Iyer's (25 off 20 balls) wicket.
Harshal Patel (18 off 11 balls) and Chahar hit a few lusty blows towards the end to get the momentum back in India's favour.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was the pick of the lot as he got three wickets to slow things down after Rohit and Ishan's blitzkrieg.
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