Century hero Bracewell hits Ireland for six
CENTURY-MAKER Michael Bracewell launched a six off the penultimate delivery to give New Zealand a one-wicket win over Ireland in the first One-day International at Malahide.
Set 301 to win by the hosts, the Black Caps looked well out of the contest at 120 for five in the 22nd over but Bracewell smashed 127 off 82 balls, with the last of his seven sixes finishing the tense contest in style.
The tourists set a new record as successfully chasing 20 off the final six balls surpassed the previous 50th-over best in ODI’S by England against Australia in 1987.
Bracewell dispatched the first two deliveries for four, launched a six over midwicket and then found the legside boundary again before applying the coup de grace by clearing the rope at long on.
His knock included 20 fours and pivotal stands of 61 for the seventh wicket with Ish Sodhi (25) and 64 for the ninth wicket with Lockie Ferguson (eight).
The result was harsh on Ireland, particularly Harry Tector (inset) who scored his maiden ODI century batting at number four.
Tector’s emotional celebration - his grandmother died last weekend came after he brought up his hundred from 109 balls after hitting a fourth successive four off Blair Tickner.
He was eventually out for 113, an innings which helped Ireland reach 300 for nine.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler earned his first win as England’s permanent white-ball captain, with his side avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash against India despite a brutal century from Suryakumar Yadav.
Dawid Malan and Reece Topley both starred for England, with Malan’s 77 off 39 balls leading the hosts to an imposing total of 215-7. He was ably supported by Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 42 from 29 balls.
In response, England got off to an excellent start as they reduced India to 31-3, with Topley taking two of the early wickets. However, Yadav then took centre stage as he blasted a stunning hundred which almost single-handedly won India the match.
However, nobody else really contributed with the bat for the visitors and when Yadav was caught by Phil Salt in the 19th over, India’s hopes of winning evaporated. Jordan then closed out the innings as
England completed a 17-run victory.