HYDERABAD: Despite a scorching century from Michael Bracewell, Shubman Gill’s superb 208 helped India hold on to defeat New Zealand by 12 runs in the first One-day International on Wednesday in Hyderabad.
After Gill scored the 10th double hundred in ODI history, India appeared to be cruising to victory with New Zealand in serious danger at 131-6 and chasing 350.
All-rounder Bracewell responded by scoring 140 runs off 78 balls before he was caught by Shardul Thakur leg before wicket in the last over.
Before Bracewell’s late fireworks offered New Zealand hope of a thrilling victory, India’s fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj restrained them with disciplined early spells.
At the top of the order, Finn Allen scored a relaxed 40, but after Siraj dismissed Tom Latham for the sixth wicket, New Zealand was in serious trouble.
When left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner joined Bracewell, they shared a remarkable 162-run partnership while hitting 57 of 45 balls together. However, Siraj eventually broke their partnership.
Bracewell put on a batting clinic, hitting 12 fours and 10 sixes, keeping the visitors in the game and controlling it until the very last over, when he was the last one out as they were dismissed with four balls remaining.
With 4-46, Siraj was the standout bowler, while Kuldeep Yadav and Thakur both claimed two wickets.
The 23-year-old Gill earlier contributed to India’s impressive 349-8 total with an innings that lasted 149 balls and had 19 fours and 9 sixes.
Apart from Gill, the rest of India’s batting order had trouble adding runs. The captain Rohit Sharma, who made the second-highest contribution with 34 before becoming the first man out, and the powerful Virat Kohli, who was bowled by Santner, were both quickly dismissed for just eight runs.
Ishan Kishan was cheaply removed by Lockie Ferguson as well, but Gill was helped in the last over by Suryakumar Yadav (31) and Hardik Pandya (28).
The third ODI will take place in Indore on Tuesday after the second game on Saturday in Raipur. After the ODI series, the teams are scheduled to play three Twenty20 internationals.
