By BD Naraayannkar Jan 18, 2023
Hyderabad/UNI/IBNS: Shubman Gills double hundred helped India to secure a 12-run victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Wednesday.
India put up a mammoth total of 349/8, riding high on Gills incredible 208 runs off 149 balls, which consisted of 19 boundaries and 9 sixes.
2?0?0? !? ? ???????? ????!?? One mighty knock! ? ? The moment, the reactions the celebrations ? ? Follow the match ? https://t.co/IQq47h2W47 #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/sKAeLqd8QV
BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2023
Local boy Mohammed Siraj joined the party by picking up four Kiwi wickets for 46 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur chipped in with two wickets each.
Mohammad Shami had one against his name.
In reply to Indias total, New Zealand ended their chase at 337 all out with four balls to spare.
At one point, a surrender looked inevitable for New Zealand when they tottered at 131/6 in 28 overs as spectators started to vacate the stadium.
But, thereafter an absolute slaughter ensued.
Leading from the front in this endeavour was Michael Bracewell (140 off 73 balls 12x4s 10x6s), who was aptly supported by Mitchell Santner (57 off 45 balls x4s) 1x6) at the other end.
Image Credit: Twitter/BCCI
The former, especially put Indian bowlers to sword, making them to toil hard.
Soon the duo put on a 162-run partnership off just 102 balls for seventh wicket, leaving skipper Rohit Sharma and his mates helpless.
Both took the game deep and Bracewell continued spraying boundaries despite losing Santner.
Luckily for India, Siraj arguably sealed the match in the 46th over as he sent his home fans into delirium by removing Santner and Henry Shipley in two consecutive balls. This broke the spine of Bracewells quest to cross over the mark.
Nevertheless, Bracewll gave a try when his team needed 20 off the last over. He smashed Shardul Thakur for a six first ball but the next ball the latter trapped the centurion plumb in front, bringing an end to an amazing game of cricket.
Earlier, Gill single-handedly guided India to a mammoth total of 349/8 with his maiden double hundred.
Gill scored 208 off 149 balls with 19 boundaries and 9 sixes. This knock completely overshadowed the century he smashed against Sri Lanka a couple of days ago.
A SIX to bring up his Double Hundred ?? Watch that moment here, ICYMI ??#INDvNZ #TeamIndia @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/8qCReIQ3lc
BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2023
The Delhi lad appeared unfazed by the two-paced nature of the pitch and was equally adept against New Zealand pacers and spinners, putting a lot of pressure on the NZ bowlers.
Other Indian batsmen did not have the flow as Gill had, except Captain Rohit Sharma (34 off 35) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 38).
Gill was in his element when he took on an usually prudish Mitchell Santner to the cleaners.
As he walked back proudly, Gill could hardly realise that he became the fastest Indian to record 1,000 ODI runs.
Gill also smashed back-to-back centuries in the ODI, after clobbering 97-ball 116 against Sri Lanka in the third ODI in Thiruvananthapuram.
Gill broke the previous record of Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved the feat in their 24th innings, to become the fastest Indian and the joint-second fastest ever to 1000 runs mark in ODIs.
Gills third century came off just 87 balls in 19 innings. Prior to him Shikar Dhawan had reached the third century in fewer innings than him, in the list of Indian batsmen.
Gill had his slice of luck before he reached his fifty, which came off 52 balls, in the 19th over.
New Zealand skipper Tom Latham dropped him and missed a stumping opportunity off Bracewell.
Darly Mitchell and Shipley bagged two wickets each and Lockie Farguson, Blair Tickner, and Santner claimed a wicket each for New Zealand.
(Images by Twitter/BCCI)