All-rounder Michael Bracewell played the best knock of his career to save New Zealand from their first defeat to Ireland with some remarkable late hitting.
Michael Bracewell special helps NZ beat Ireland in last-over thriller (ICC Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Michael Bracewell played a special unbeaten 127-run knock
- Ireland posted 300/9 to hand their opponents a stiff challenge
- New Zealand sealed a one-wicket win over Ireland
All-rounder Michael Bracewell played a special unbeaten 127-run knock to help New Zealand seal a one-wicket win over Ireland with some remarkable late hitting in a last-over thriller in Dublin. Bracewell pretty much singlehandedly won the game for the Black Caps with 127 not out, including all of the required 20 in the final over to pull off a one-wicket victory.
Earlier, Harry Tactor’s maiden ODI hundred helped Ireland post 300/9 to hand their opponents a stiff challenge. The innings was headlined by a sparkling century from their number 4 Tector, who came in a vital stage to arrest a slide.
Ireland didn’t get off to the greatest of starts. The very first delivery of the innings found the outside edge but Paul Stirling managed to survive as the ball evaded the slip fielders to run to the boundary.
Tector took charge post the dismissal and the likes of Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell chipped in with useful cameos as well. Tector eventually brought up his maiden ODI hundred but he was part of a mini collapse that saw New Zealand claw their way back at the death. However, their hopes of capitalising on the collapse were dashed by a quickfire 30 from Simi Singh as Ireland reached 300.
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