India and New Zealand clashed against each other for the first match of the three-match series on Wednesday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Due to Shubman Gill‘s double century, India defeated New Zealand in the first ODI, but Michael Bracewell won the hearts of many fans. The Kiwi all-rounder played a sensational inning but couldn’t take his team over the line, in the end.
In front of the target of 350 runs, New Zealand had lost six wickets for just 131 runs till the 29th over. The hope of victory from here was bleak, but Michael Bracewell had landed with a different intention. 12 runs out first, the Indian team was forgetting the celebration of victory and praising Bracewell, he had done such a great game. Fans witnessed a double-century knock get matched by another knock in the same ODI
It was very shocking that no team placed bets on him in the Indian T20 League 2023 mini-auction. Bracewell hit 12 fours and 10 sixes during his innings. He completed his 100 runs in 51 balls. When Shardul Thakur came to bowl the last over, New Zealand needed 20 runs to win. Bracewell hit a six off the first ball while the second was wide. However, he was out lbw in the third over. Bracewell was well supported by Santner, who scored 57 off 45 balls. There was a great partnership of 162 runs for the seventh wicket between the two.
We weren’t trying to win it: Michael Bracewell
In the post-match presentation, Bracewell also talked about his inning,
‘We were just trying to give ourselves a chance (by building a partnership after six wickets). Unfortunately, we fell short right at the end. Once Mitchell (Santner) and I managed to settle, we started believing. We weren’t trying to win it then, just wanted to take it deep to give us a chance.” He said.
It was a great start to the series, India would not have been expecting New Zealand to come out all guns blazing even without Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, and the hosts were definitely shocked. A magnificent game of cricket all-round. Gill’s double ton setting up the game and then the near-heist from Bracewell but he was denied at the last step.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Waqt badal diye, jazbat badal diye#INDvsNZ
— Cricketbugs (@Cricketbugs0) January 19, 2023
Shardul bhai almost made me piss my pants.
— Koushik Reddy ✨#Globetrotting 🔥✨ (@Kowshik04616113) January 18, 2023
12रन से जीत हीं गए हम। जीत जीत होती है, अंतर और तरीका जो भी हो।
जश्न मनाओ…#जयहिंद #INDvsNZ— INDIAN 😎♥️ (@its_anmoltiwari) January 18, 2023
From mehidy to shanaka now bracewell lower order …
— Barbhuiya🇮🇳 (@shbarbhuiya4S) January 18, 2023
Finally 🥵we won pic.twitter.com/WQ5pHKVyTG
— shamy (@shamy6778) January 18, 2023
Shanaka from Newzealand
— VISHAL 🇮🇳 (@VISHALVK18R) January 18, 2023
Bracewell well played woooof … who said one days are boring ? India avoided a big loss
— ஞா. சரவணக்குமார் (@amGSKsakthi) January 18, 2023
He's literally a beast of a cricketer
— wanderer (@MizajKhan8) January 18, 2023
