IND vs NZ: Gill stars with double hundred as India crushed New Zealand by 12-run | India vs New Zealand 1st ODI Review

IND vs NZ 1st ODI: A desired start to the series for the Men in Blue as they grab a 1-0 lead in the first ODI of the New Zealand tour of India in 2023. India put forth their all at every single moment. Rohit and company triumphed in each segment, whether to discuss batting or bowling. The match was really a thriller and the blue army held their nerve to eventually take win at the end.

India amassed a massive total of 349 runs in 50 overs riding the wave of Shubman Gill's double hundred, of which he alone scored 208 runs. The Indian bowlers also met expectations when defending the total! New Zealand was 6 down for 131 at one point, but Bracewell took a leap and actually took on every bowler of the hosts. He almost had taken New Zealand home but he missed by a narrow margin.

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Let?s take a brief overview of the match:

IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Match Review

India won the flip of the coin and chose to bat first. Rohit and Shubman Gill started calmly and established a 60-run stand for the first wicket before Rohit Sharma handed a catch to Daryl Mitchell at 34. Soon Kohli(8) and Ishan(5) departed cheaply too. Surya Kumar Yadav(31) also got a good start but failed to convert it into a big one.

Shubman Gill on the other hand held his end firmly and scored his consecutive second century. Hardik Pandya(28) played the second fiddle and watched Shubman take on the blackcaps? bowling attack. Shubman got to 150 in style with a SIX. Gill actually ripped apart the kiwi bowler in the death overs and reached the record milestone of a double hundred again with a SIX! Soon he got back to the pavilion of record 208 runs (Read full article). India posted a total of 349.

New Zealand didn?t get the start they thought of. Siraj drew the first blood in the form of Devon Conway(10). After that, India were able to take wickets at regular interval which left the visitors at 131 for 6 wickets at one stage. 

India was looking overpowered before Michael Bracewell entered the arena. He brought the twist in the game. Mitchell Santner and Bracewell came together and the latter took the charge to counter-attack the Indian bowlers. Bracewell was looking like a man on a mission and smacked a blistering century in just 57 balls. He alone took New Zealand to the doorstep of an astounding win out of nowhere.

NZ needed 20 runs in the final over and Shardul Thakur was handed the ball. The first ball was sent for a SIX followed by a wide. Now the equation was New Zealand needed 13 off 5. Shardul Thakur then executed a perfect yorker and Bracewell was given OUT! India clinched the win in a thrilling match with 12 runs. 

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