Rohit Sharma hit two sixes in Wellington to move past Shahid Afridi and become the leading six-hitter in one-day internationals against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma hit two sixes in the second ODI in Wellington to move past Shahid Afridi for the most ODI sixes against New Zealand. Rohit now has 51 sixes in 34 innings against New Zealand, while Afridi had 50 in 35 innings. The record is a fitting one for Rohit, whose ODI career has been defined by clean hitting at the top of the order. Going past a player of Afridi's reputation as a six-hitter adds another milestone to that career. Jos Buttler and Virat Kohli are next on the list with 29 sixes each against New Zealand, a long way behind the two leaders. The gap shows how far ahead Rohit and Afridi sit in this particular record.
A short innings, a lasting record
Rohit scored 23 in the second ODI before falling to Kyle Jamieson. The innings was brief, but it contained the two sixes that settled the record. India's chase was a difficult one on a surface that offered the bowlers plenty of help. Rohit's early hitting gave the innings some momentum before the middle order had to grind through the rest of the chase.
Afridi's mark stood for years
Afridi's 50 sixes against New Zealand had stood as the mark to beat for a long time. He reached it in 35 innings, one more than Rohit needed, which makes the new record a close contest decided by a single innings. Records of this kind tend to change hands slowly, and Afridi's had survived many challengers. Rohit's consistency against New Zealand across his career is what finally moved him past it.
India take 2-0 lead
India won the match by four runs on the DLS method after rain ended play with the visitors on 113 for 7. The win gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The third ODI will be played in Hamilton on Tuesday, 10 November, where Rohit will have a chance to extend his new record.
