Michael Bracewell’s magnificent innings of 140 went in vain as New Zealand went down by 12 runs against India in the first one day international at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, openers Rohit Sharma along with Shubman Gill got India off to a solid start. The pair added 60 runs for the opening stand before the former perished while attempting a bat hit off Blair Tickner for 34.
Mitchell Santner provided the vital breakthrough by dismissing Virat Kohli (8) bowled with a beautiful delivery. Left hander Ishan Kishan fell soon after edging at a short of length delivery from Ferguson to keeper Tom Latham for 8.
Gill got a reprieve in the 19th over when skipper Latham missed a stumping chance off Bracewell. The talented Gill along with Suryakumar Yadav stitched together a 65 run stand for the fourth wicket before the latter chipped a delivery from Daryl Mitchell to Santner at covers for a 26 ball-31.
The 23 year old Gill featured in yet another valuable 74 run stand for the fifth wicket along with Hardik Pandya before the latter while attempting a cut off Mitchell was bowled for a 38 ball-28.
Henry Shipley claimed his maiden wicket by trapping Washington Sundar leg before wicket for 12. Shardul Thakur (3) was run out following a mix with Gill in the 47th over.
Shubman Gill reached his maiden double hundred by smacking Lockie Ferguson for three consecutive sixes. He however fell to a stupendous catch by Glenn Phillips at deep midwicket off Shipley in the final over for a swashbuckling 208. His knock came off 149 balls with 19 fours and 9 sixes.
The hosts ended up with a massive 349/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing 350, New Zealand opening pair of Finn Allen and Devon Conway got New Zealand off to a steady start. The duo added 28 runs for the first wicket before the latter (10) perished to Mohammed Siraj.
Shardul Thakur got into the act by claiming the well set Allen (40), caught by substitute fielder Shahbaz Ahmed. Left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav then pegged the visitors back with wickets of Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell leaving them in a spot of bother at 89/4.
The Black Caps slipped even further as Glenn Phillips (11) and Tom Latham (24) fell to Shami and Siraj respectively.
However Bracewell along with Mitchell Santner brought New Zealand back into the contest with a scintillating seventh wicket stand of 162 runs. However Siraj brought India back into the contest- first by dismissing Santner and then cleaning up Henry Shipley for a golden duck.
With 20 needed off the final over Bracewell slammed Shardul Thakur for a maximum. However Thakur held his nerve by trapping the southpaw leg before wicket to give India a stunning win.
India 349 for 8 (Gill 208, Mitchell 2-30, Shipley 2-74) beat New Zealand 337 (Bracewell 140, Santner 57, Siraj 4-46, Kuldeep 2-43, Thakur 2-54) by 12 runs