NZ VS IRE ODI

Right then, that is all we have from this thrilling first ODI of this three-match ODI series! New Zealand go 1-0 up and they would be looking to seal the series in the second game that will be played on Tueday, 12th of July. It will start at 3.15 pm IST (9.45 am GMT). Our build-up though begins earlier. So do join us for the same. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Tom Latham, the skipper of New Zealand, says that it is one of those games that when someone plays that kind of knock one need to appreciate that and it was a special innings. Tells that it is a difficult ground to defend scores but they lost wickets but luckily Michael Bracewell played brilliantly. Tells that Ferguson was brilliant with the ball and Irish batters batted well and he says that it is great to be part of such a special game.

Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland, says that it is a disappointed dressing room at the moment largely because they did everything right apart from winning the game. Adds that in the end, Michael Bracewell took the game away from them and it is a big shame that they ended up on the losing side having played brilliant cricket. Says that he is happy with the performance but they are on 1-0 down in the series which hurts a bit.

Michael Bracewell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliank knock of 127 off just 82 balls! He says that he does not have words to describe this feeling at the moment. Tells that they had to rebuild and they got some partnerships in the end and then managed to take the game off from there. Says that they proud themselves to take the game deep and they managed to do that and that helped them win the game.

Presentation time...

Ireland would be wondering how they let this game slip. They did everything right till the final few overs. They were put into bat by the Kiwis and Ireland responded with a fine batting show as Tector notched up his first ODI century and middle-order did its job to perfection. The bowlers then continued that momentum and both seamers and spinners bowled quite well to keep the pressure on New Zealand right throughout the chase. Campher was especially exceptional and finished with three wickets. He even outbowled an experienced bowler like Lockie Ferguson who was brilliant with the ball for the Kiwis and took 2 wickets in this game. However, Ireland gave away way too many loose deliveries in the end and their most experienced bowler, Craig Young crumbled under pressure in the last over.

New Zealand had a stiff target to chase but they had a powerful batting line-up and on the ground with short boundaries, they would have fancied their top order to chase this down, They did chase it down eventually but it turned out to be quite dramatic. They kept losing wickets throughout this chase and it was Martin Guptill at the start who held things together and scored a good fifty. However, he too departed eventually as New Zealand were reduced to 120-5. Outwalked Michael Bracewell and started building partnership first a brief one with Glenn Phillips and then an important one with Sodhi and just when things looked out of New Zealand’s hands, he exploded at the death and smashed Irish bowlers all over the park. It still looked a distant target when Lockie Ferguson departed with 20 needed off the last over. Bracewell though had other plans and finished it off with some brilliant hitting.

Michael Bracewell...you beauty! He has pulled off a heist for New Zealand here! One of the best ODI knocks you will ever see. The Kiwis were almost down and out right throughout this chase but they just managed to hung in there and with 20 needed off the last over, Michael Bracewell just finsihed things off in style with one ball to spare! Ireland would be gutted here, they did almost everything right in this game but just could not keep their composure in the final few overs and have missed out on a golden opportunity to register their first ODI win against the Blackcaps!

SIX! Ohh... Michael Bracewell has done it! Young bowls it in the slot again, on off. Michael Bracewell stays deep in his crease and launches it over long on for a biggie. What a knock, unbelievable stuff from Michael Bracewell! New Zealand win by 1 wicket!

FOUR! This is brilliant batting, what a knock this has been! Back of a length, on off. Michael Bracewell pulls it to deep mid-wicket in the gap for a boundary! Just 2 needed now!

SIX! Oh...he has deposited this into the crowd! A fullish delivery on off. Michael Bracewell gets under it and tonks it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

FOUR! Another boundary and almost a same shot! 12 needed now from 4 balls! This is full on off. Michael Bracewell gets a bit across again and paddles it in the gap through backward square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Michael Bracewell starts the over with a boundary! This is full on off. Michael Bracewell gets across and paddles it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Blair Tickner is the last man in.

OUT! BOWLED! Yes, he does! What a superb over by Mark Adair! Just 4 from it and gets a wicket here! Mark Adair nails a yorker on off. Lockie Ferguson looks to get under it and hit it away. However, it is too good for him and the ball shatters the off pole. What a moment in this game, top-class bowling. 20 needed from the last over now!

Just a single, brilliant over so far! A low full toss on off. Michael Bracewell slams it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Can he finish this over well now?

Back of a length, slower delivery on middle. Lockie Ferguson looks to heave it away but ends up missing it. The ball hits his body and rolls towards the leg side. A leg bye taken.