Michael Bracewell Almost Pulled Off a Miraculous Chase Against India

Michael Bracewell has just played one of “the most” incredible ODI innings of all time against India. Rescuing the innings from 131/6, Bracewell made an astonishing 57-ball 100 to try and take New Zealand over the line with Santner (57 off 45) chasing 350.

In the end, India won the game by 12 runs. Bracewell, unfortunately, had to end up on the losing side after getting out LBW in the last over. But it wasn’t before he hit 12 fours and 10 towering sixes. The innings had “Never Give Up” written all over it.

It must have been a highly entertaining day for the Hyderabad crowd. Earlier, Shubman Gill became the youngest batsman in ODI history to hit a double century. And later on, they witnessed Michael Bracewell’s onslaught against the Indian bowlers.

The game looked dead at 131/6 after 28.4 overs. The required run rate for New Zealand was creeping up to 11. Still, that didn’t stop Bracewell from giving it his all.

He didn’t have many partners to give him support once Santner got out. Afterward, Mohammad Siraj took 2 wickets in the 46th over to further hamper the New Zealand innings.

However, Bracewell was reluctant to surrender. He kept fighting till the last over where 13 were required from 5. Unfortunately, he was pinned LBW by Shardul Thakur who really saved India from an embarrassing loss.

Here’s what Michael Bracewell had to say about his innings:

“We were just trying to give ourselves a chance, we managed to get a partnership but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough which is a bit of a bummer really. It’s early on in my international career so I don’t have a lot of footage of these bowlers but I try to get a feel of what they bowl. Once Mitch and I got ourselves settled, we weren’t talking too much about winning, we wanted to take it deep and give ourselves a chance. We wanted to have a good crack and you need to back yourselves with 20 needed off the last over. The bowlers did well in that period (after I got my hundred) with their yorkers. Credit to them.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Michael Bracewell has made it to the list of what-could-have-had-been the greatest ODI innings ever if the team won.

We have seen Stoinis (146* off 117) rescuing Australia from 148/7 in a chase of 287 against the Blackcaps. Sadly, he ran out of partners.

The innings of Carlos Brathwaite (101 off 82) against New Zealand in the last ODI World Cup come to mind. He just fell short by 5 runs after an incredible effort.

Recently, it was Fakhar Zaman who couldn’t end up on the winning side despite making 193 off 155 against South Africa.

Innings like these inspire others, even more, to always give it their best shot even if winning seems impossible.

We’ll see Michael Bracewell against India again on January 21 when both teams meet for the 2nd ODI in Raipur.