• India v Australia, 7th ODI, Bangalore

Sharma becomes third player to hit ODI double-century

Rohit Sharma hit 16 sixes in his innings of 209 © BCCI

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India's Rohit Sharma smashed a magnificent innings of 209 off 158 balls in their seventh one-day international with Australia, becoming only the third player to score a double-century in ODI cricket as India secured victory by 57 runs to win the series 3-2.

Sharma hit 16 sixes while out in the middle in Bangalore, breaking Shan Watson's previous record of 15 sixes in an ODI innings.

India ended their 50 overs on 383-6, scoring 101 runs in their final five overs, with Australia making 326 runs.

"Getting a 200 in ODIs is a wonderful feeling," Sharma said. "When I went out to bat, I never thought I'd get a 200. The idea was to stay on the wicket. We know it is a small ground, runs are easy to come by once you are in. I just wanted to stay in and capitalise later.

"I am in a good nick. [I] Just wanted to carry on from the last game. Disappointed to not get a hundred in the last game, but I wanted to make sure that once I got my eye in I play big. As you play, records will happen. I just want my team to win. It will be a wonderful feeling then."

Moving up to open the ODI innings for India has been a turning point for Rohit, and he has been insisting all this is just the beginning.

"Again, it's really coming off well since Champions Trophy," Sharma said. "I want to keep the momentum going and carry on the good work."

Previously, Virender Sehwag made 219 against the West Indies in 2011, while Sachin Tendulkar is the only other player to make a double century in ODI cricket - he scored 200 not out against South Africa in 2010.

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