Michael Bracewell had single-handedly kept New Zealand in the game even after New Zealand were reduced to 131 for 6 while chasing 350 against India in the 1st ODI in Hyderabad on Wednesday, January 18. Bracewell hit 140 from just 78 balls, smashing 9 sixes and 12 fours but he failed to take the team home in the final over when his team needed 20 runs. Heartbroken after missing out on the win despite a magical knock, Michael Bracewell said that it was not his day.

Bracewell and Mitchell Santner steadied the ship when New Zealand were almost out of the contest after Mohammed Siraj, who did exceptionally well at his home ground. However, the two left-handers added a 162-run stand for the 7th wicket in just 17 overs. But they fell short of 12 runs.

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“We were just trying to give ourselves a chance. Unfortunately, we fell short right at the end. Once Mitchell and I managed to settle, we started believing. We weren’t trying to win it then, just wanted to take it deep to give us a chance,” Bracewell said, explaining the thought process during the game. “We left too much to do at the end. You back yourself to get 20 runs in the last over, unfortunately, it wasn’t my day today.”

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However, Michael Bracewell added that he had to struggle to hit them consistently out of the park after getting scoring a hundred and praised the India bowlers for maintaining the pressure in the death. However, earlier in the day, India managed to post 349 on the back of a stunning double hundred from Shubman Gill. Gill hit 208 while the next-best scorer was Rohit Sharma with 34 as well. Both teams will meet in the 2nd ODI in Raipur on Saturday, January 21.

“It was difficult to get them away at that stage. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get over the line today,” Michael Bracewell concluded.