IND VS NZ: Michael Bracewell equals MS Dhoni’s record with a blazing ton (140) in Hyderabad

Michael Bracewell’s remarkable ODI batting records improved following another fantastic inning in the opening ODI between India and New Zealand in Hyderabad. Walking in at No.7, Michael Bracewell was confronted with what seemed to be an impossible job, with his side requiring 240 runs to win in little over 25 overs and just five wickets left.

Michael Bracewell equals MS Dhoni’s record

Unfazed, the Kiwi all-rounder began his innings with two boundaries in an over from Mohammad Shami and never looked back. He quickly lost Tom Latham at the other end, but Michael Bracewell was satisfied to be the Kiwis’ one-man army, going hammer and tongs at the Indian bowlers with some spectacular strokes. The innings nearly eclipsed Shubman Gill’s earlier-in-the-day double hundred in India’s 349/8.

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He hit his second ODI century in only 57 balls, the third-fastest by a New Zealand batsman in men’s ODIs. Michael Bracewell also equaled MS Dhoni’s unique record of being the only batsman to score more than a hundred from No.7 or lower in ODIs with the tonne, becoming the only hitter to do so. Michael Bracewell placed New Zealand within striking distance of victory, along with a feisty partner in Mitchell Santner.

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To keep New Zealand in the hunt, the pair established the third-highest seventh-wicket stand in men’s ODIs — a magnificent 162-run partnership. When Santner and Henry Shipley were out in the 46th over, the visitors required 56 runs off four overs. Michael Bracewell reduced it to 20 runs required in one over, and he began the last over with a six, but he couldn’t quite complete it.

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His 140 from 78 balls is the joint-third-highest ODI score by a player batting at No.7 or below. Only Luke Ronchi and Marcus Stoinis have scored better or lower from No.7 in men’s ODIs. Bracewell and Gill accounted for 348 of the match’s 686 runs.