Kiwis registered a fighting one-wicket win over Ireland. The New Zealand team won the match by scoring 24 runs in the last over. However, they needed 20 runs and only the last wicket was in the crease. It is the record run chase in ODI history in the 50th over. Medium-pacer Yang was bowling the last over and the number seven batsman Bracebell was in front. Michel was playing on 103 at that time. In such a situation, Kiwi’s last hope was the same.
Michel Bracebell hit five boundaries in five balls of the last over. Bracewell hit three fours and two sixes. In this way he (127*) snatched the victory from Ireland’s hands. He brilliantly did not give a chance to play a single ball to Blair Tickner standing at the non-strike end.
At a time NZ was Five wickets for 120
Chasing the target of 301 runs, the Kiwi team had lost five wickets for 120 runs. The score remained 281/9 after 49 overs. On New Zealand’s behalf, opener Martin Guptill played a half-century innings of 51 runs.
In the first match of the ODI series, Ireland scored 300 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Harry Tector with 113 runs scored a century from their side. In the chasing, NZ achieved the target in 49.5 overs for the loss of nine wickets.
Record for most runs in the last over in an ODI match
For the first time in the history of ODI cricket, a team won a match by scoring 20+ runs in the 50th over. Earlier the record was 18 runs. The English team did this feat against Australia in 1987.
Now New Zealand is leading the series 1-0 in the 3-match ODI series between both countries. This win will increase the belief in the team for the next matches of the series.