India captain
Entering the match needing two maximums to claim the top spot, Sharma achieved the feat during his 28-ball stay at the crease. He struck both required sixes off New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson, clearing the boundary in the seventh and ninth overs. The innings, which ended at 23 runs, brought his total tally against the Black Caps to 51 sixes across 34 innings. Afridi’s previous benchmark of 50 sixes was set over 35 innings between 1996 and 2015.
India secure series lead in rain-affected contest
While the individual achievement provided a highlight for the visitors, the match itself was defined by challenging conditions and a tense finish. Chasing a modest target of 135 in a game reduced to 47 overs per side, India found themselves in a precarious position at 113/7 after 26 overs when persistent rain forced the players off the field. With no further play possible, India were declared winners by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The New Zealand bowling attack had threatened to derail the chase, with Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy both claiming 3/35. Duffy made an immediate impact by dismissing Shubman Gill for a golden duck and removing Virat Kohli for seven. Despite the top-order collapse that left India at 47/4, Shreyas Iyer provided stability with a 46-ball 30, while KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 26 when the weather intervened. The victory follows India’s five-wicket win in the series opener in Auckland, where the hosts were restricted to 185.
