Hitman Rohit Sharma hit a brilliant unbeaten 15 (including two sixes) in the Super Over to win the third T20I at Seddon Park and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series on Wednesday.

 

Bowling first, New Zealand paceman Hamish Bennett took three wickets to put Rohit Sharma's half century in the background as the hosts restricted India to 179/5 in 20 overs.

 

Bennett (3/54) grabbed two wickets in three balls to remove Rohit, who slammed a 40-ball 65 including six fours and three sixes, and Shivam Dube (3) early on and then claimed the prized scalp of skipper Virat Kohli (38) in the 19th over as India never really got going after the initial flourish.

 

Manish Pandey's 14-run cameo along with Ravindra Jadeja's 10 of 5helped India reach a defendable total in the end. This after the tourists were off to a blazing start with in-form K.L. Rahul and Rohit looking to take the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners.

 

India raced to 69/0 in the first six overs and it looked like New Zealand's ploy of asking India to bat first to blunt their strength of chasing would fall flat. But Colin de Grandhomme's first over of the series broke the 89-run stand as Rahul was caught at point by Colin Munro in the ninth over.

 

All-rounder Shivam Dube was promoted to bat at No.3 to continue the onslaught, but a double strike by Hamish Bennett brought New Zealand right back in the game.

 

While Rohit holed out to Tim Southee at long on, Dube sliced a back of a length delivery to Ish Sodhi at third man. Kohli took a bit of time to get going as the Kiwis held the upper hand before the Indian captain smashed a six and a four off Mitchell Santner in the 15th over which yielded 13 runs as India moved to 127/3.

 

Shreyas Iyer looked to heap more misery on Santner as he hit a six off his first ball in the 17th over, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh on his home ground as he changed the pace to outsmart the batsman who was stumped by Tim Seifert.

 

Kohli tried to change gears but was caught at extra-cover by Southee off Bennett. India, though, made some ground in the final over as Pandey and Jadeja hit a six each to take 18 off Southee's final over helping India to set of target of 180 for the hosts.

 

Chasing 180, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson displayed his batting master-class as he smashed a 48-ball 95.

 

Going into the 17th, New Zealand needed 43 off 24 balls. But at the end of the over, the Kiwis needed 29 from the last three overs. With Ross Taylor giving Williamson company, it was all about not doing anything reckless for the hosts.

 

For the Indians, their failure to grab the opportunity with the bat was followed by some poor show on the field as even one of the world's finest fielders Ravindra Jadeja dropped a catch, not to mention quite a few misfields.

 

Williamson took full advantage as he ensured that he not only held one end up, but also hit the timely boundaries to keep the hosts in the game. But Shami, who bowled a sensational final over removed the Kiwi skipper on the second ball of the last over. Two runs of four balls is all New Zealand needed to avoid a third consective loss, but Shami made a match out of nothing as he bowled a couple of dot balls before sending Taylor's stumps for a walk in the park off the last ball, forcing a tie and taking the game into the Super Over.

 

In the Super Over, the Kiwis set a target of 18 runs for the visitors. Requiring 10 runs of 2 balls to win the match, Rohit smacked Tim Southee for two back to back sixes to steal a series win. 

 

Rohit Sharma was adjudged Man of the Match for his Super Over heroics, and not to forget his incredible 40-ball 65 which set the base of the Indian innings.

 

This is for the first time that India have won a T20I series in Kiwi's backyard.

 

Brief Scores: India: 179/5 in 20 overs ( Rohit Sharma 65; Hamish Bennett 3/54); New Zealand: 179/6 (Kane Williamson 95); Super Over: New Zealand: 17/0; India: 20