Mahesh Kumar A./AP
New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell scored a sensational century in the defeat against India in Hyderabad.
In Hyderabad, 1st ODI: India 349-8 (Shubman Gill 208, Rohit Sharma 34) beat New Zealand 337 all out in 49.2 overs (Michael Bracewell 140, Mitchell Santner 57, Finn Allen 40; Mohammed Siraj 4-46) by 12 runs.
Michael Bracewell’s astonishing century couldn’t save the Black Caps from defeat in the opening game of their ODI series against India on Thursday morning (NZ time).
The allrounder made the third-fastest century in ODI history for New Zealand to change what seemed to be a hopeless cause into a realistic chance at victory.
Bracewell made 140 from just 78 balls, but ran out of support late before being lbw with four balls remaining and New Zealand 13 runs short of their huge target.
Bracewell and Mitchell Santner put on 162 for the seventh wicket as the understrength Black Caps battled back after opener Shubman Gill made a double century as the hosts amassed 349-8 batting first after winnking the toss in Hyderabad.
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However, when Santner (57 from 45 balls) fell in the 46th over, Henry Shipley made his second golden duck in as many ODI appearances.
Lockie Ferguson and Blair Tickner chipped in to help Bracewell get agonisingly close for the tourists, before the left-hander – who hammered 10 sixes and 12 fours – was trapped lbw by Shardul Thakur attempting to leg-glance a boundary.
ICC
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The tourists were without regular ODI captain Kane Williamson and test skipper Tim Southee – both rested after the tour of Pakistan – along with the unavailable Trent Boult and injured spinner Ish Sodhi.
Gill took advantage of a weakened bowling attack to hammer 208 off just 149 balls as he dominated India’s innings – the next-highest score was just 34 from fellow opener Rohit Sharma.
He was given a life when Black Caps wicketkeeper and captain Tom Latham dropped the right-hander when on 45 off Bracewell.
Latham was later involved in two moments of controversy – the first when Hardik Pandya was given out bowled, despite it appearing Latham’s gloves had knocked the bail off, rather than the ball, while standing up to the bowling of Daryl Mitchell.
When the NZ captain was batting, India’s wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan and team-mates appealed for Latham’s dismissal, indicating that he had stepped on his stumps – only for replays to show Kishan had deliberately knocked a bail off with his glove long after Latham had hit the ball.
In NZ’s reply, opener Finn Allen made 40 from 39 balls, with 22 off them coming from five consecutive deliveries he faced before NZ slumped to 131-6.
Mahesh Kumar A./AP
India’s Shubhman Gill celebrates scoring a double-century during the first one-day international versus New Zealand.
Standing in for Southee and Boult, inexperienced seamers Henry Shipley and Blair Tickner struggled to impose themselves, returning figures of 2-74 (off nine overs) and 1-69 (off 10) respectively.
Big moment
Gill was on 45 when Bracewell induced an edge from his bat to the first ball of the 19th over.
Latham, standing up to the stumps, was unable to hold on to the catch as he juggled the ball before it hit the ground, which also allowed Gill to avoid being stumped as he had danced down the wicket while playing his shot.
Best with the bat
Gill, who came into the series following scores of 70, 21 and 116 against Sri Lanka, went on to score another 163 runs from 100 deliveries.
While New Zealand took wickets regularly, Gill made the most of his let-off and then unleashed a devastating finish to take the total out of the reach – just, due to Bracewell’s knock – of the visitors.
Gill struck six sixes in the space of 11 balls in the final three overs.
Mahesh Kumar A./AP
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips is bowled by India’s Mohammed Shami.
Best with the ball
Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj got rid of New Zealand’s key figures in the top-order, Devon Conway and Latham.
His biggest contribution came later though when he ended the Bracewell/Santner partnership and added the scalp of Henry Shipley in the same over.
Big picture
Both sides know the series pales in comparison with the big ODI prize this year – the World Cup to be held in India in October.
The Black Caps will field a far stronger line-up then, but also got a late boost from Bracewell’s fireworks ahead of game two starting in Raipur on Saturday night (NZ time).
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