‘Michael Bracewell, What a player’ – Twitter lauds Michael Bracewell for his stupendous knock against India at Hyderabad
Bracewell also registered the fourth-highest individual score batting at 7 or below in ODIs.
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Jan 19, 2023 12:10 pm
Michael Bracewell (Source: Twitter)
Michael Bracewell stunned India with a century that almost carried New Zealand into an unlikely victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on January 18, Wednesday. When Tom Latham fell at 131-6, the required run rate was skyrocketing and New Zealand needed something special to get out of jail. The left-handed batter did just that when he played an exhilarating innings of 140 off 78 balls with 12 fours and 10 sixes.
It was an exhibition of clean hitting and cricketing intelligence after New Zealand were virtually out of the game. He came to the crease with a calm mind and rebuilt the innings for the Kiwis. He played shots all around the park and was equally good against pace and spin. India did not know what had hit them. He was ably supported by Mitchell Santner who scored a vital 57 off 45 balls with seven fours and one six. He also kept giving Bracewell the strike as he was hitting the ball so well.
While growing up Bracewell idolised Adam Gilchrist
The duo registered the third-highest partnership for the seventh wicket in ODIs for the black caps. They scored a 162-run partnership which made India sweat profusely. India did not help their cause by dropping their guard down after the sixth wicket had fallen and gave the two batters some freebies which they received with utmost glee.
Bracewell made his international debut in March 2022 against the Netherlands. In May 2022, he was drafted into the New Zealand Test side against England. He is the cousin of Doug Bracewell who also plays cricket for the Kiwis. He began playing cricket at the age of five. His idol growing up was Adam Gilchrist. He started playing like him as a left-handed batter who kept wickets.
He, later on, added another dimension to his cricket by becoming a useful off-spinner. Grant Elliott talked on air on Wednesday about how he had called Bracewell a bits-and-pieces player and was pleasantly surprised that he proved him wrong and now he has become a mainstay in this New Zealand lineup across formats. Bracewell also registered the fourth-highest individual score batting at 7 or below in ODIs.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Extraordinary innings Michael Bracewell. Completely overshadowed the double centurian pic.twitter.com/qmxP2vB8cw
Few have scored their first two ODI centuries walking in at as adverse situations as Michael Bracewell has done in Dublin last July & today. Two ATG ODI knocks in a span of about six months.#INDvNZ
Michael Bracewell is the reason I stand by supporting older more experienced players staying in the game. we don’t always need to look at youth, yes they are important however they learn more from playing against guys like MB ect great to see Michael mature and dominate #INDvsNZ
What a player this Michael Bracewell is! At 131-6, it seemed a matter of time but we have been treated to some extraordinary cricket. Clean, powerful hitting.
Michael Bracewell timed his assault to perfection against India yesterday, unlike Dasun Shanaka who started a hit too late. That was why he was able to get so close to the target and possibly even win the game.
