ODI 1: India beat an impressive New Zealand for 12 runs
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Hyderabad: Youngster Shubman Gill scores a double ton, worth a record, powered India to a massive total, while Mohammed Siraj became the killer again to beat New Zealand (NZ), who posed and impressive chase attempt, for a 12-run victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
In the first ODI against NZ, India chose to bat first and scored 349/8 in 50 overs after Gill smashed a 208, hitting 19 boundaries and 9 massive sixes. He reached his double century after hitting NZ’s Lockie Ferguson for 3 back-to-back sixes. The confidence and audacity the youngster exhibited was other-worldly. He became the youngest player to reach the 200 milestone, 5th Indian and seventh batter. Before him it was Ishan Kishan the youngest.
During the chase, New Zealand lost quick wickets but Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner brought a fair partnership to anchor NZ to the game. Siraj was a vulture, who took Santner and next-man-in Henry Shipley in one over imparting pressure on Bracewell.
However, Bracewell rooted on his foot went on smashing 140, slowly inching towards the target which at a point felt pretty attainable. He punished all-rounder Hardik Pandya without mercy at the Hyderabad stadium were sixes rained during both innings.
It took Shardul Thakur at the last over to take down Bracewell who had hit 12 boundaries and 10 sixes to reach 140 from just 78 balls, when NZ needed 12 run to win. Shardul, who was welcomed by Bracewell at the last over with a six, brought him down with a Yorker which took the pads for a well delivered LBW.