'Mohammed Shami’s final over got us the victory, not my two sixes' - Rohit Sharma

Team India pulled off an epic come-from-behind heist to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand. For the longest possible time, the Men in Blue looked dead and buried with BlackCaps skipper Kane Williamson taking the attack to the leader of their bowling unit– Jasprit Bumrah.

But the Kiwis faltered at the last hurdle as Mohammed Shami kept his cool and pulled out an epic final over where he not only claimed the prized scalps of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, he also ensured that the game went to the Super Over.

India conceded 17 runs in the Super Over but the target was overhauled thanks to Rohit Sharma’s whirlwind back-to-back sixes. Sharma was named the ‘Player of the Match’ but the swashbuckling opener hailed Mohammed Shami as the real reason behind India’s win.

“Everything was packed. The whole staff was inside my bag, I had to get it out. It literally took me five minutes to find my abdominal guard. But, yeah, we never thought it would go to the Super Over, the way they were batting, everyone thought that they will easily win the game but I think Shami’s last over was crucial. That actually got us the victory, not my two sixes!” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match conference as quoted by IndiaToday.

Mohammed Shami bowled against Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor

With nine runs to defend in the final over, what made Shami’s effort even more special was that he was bowling to two experienced campaigners in Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, and with the pitch settling in nicely, and the first ball going for a six, the way he held his own was truly remarkable.

“It was Shami’s over where he defended nine runs. It’s not easy with the due and the wicket settling in nicely and two set batsmen batting there as well; the one [Kane Williamson] was batting on 95 while the other one [Ross Taylor] was their most experienced player ever, so hats-off to Shami to bowl that over and get back us into the game and taking it to the Super-Over” ushered Sharma.

Courtesy this win, Team India has now taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, and the fact that it came in a manner that it did, made it even more remarkable.

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