1st ODI: India beat New Zealand by 12 runs in a thrilling match

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#ShubmanGill Hyderabad. India beat New Zealand by 12 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday. Batting first after winning the toss, India scored 349 runs at the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. Chasing which the New Zealand team was dismissed for 337 runs. Michael Bracewell top-scored for New Zealand with a brilliant 140 off 78 balls which included 10 sixes and 12 fours.

Opener Shubman Gill scored a double century from India, Gill scored 208 runs in 149 balls, which included 19 fours and nine sixes.

Rohit Sharma hit two fours and sixes on Henry Shipley. Gill, on the other hand, started off with a four off Lockie Ferguson in the sixth over.

Gill shot easily to Blair Tickner, pulling him twice over mid-wicket to take India past 50 in 8.4 overs. The opening partnership of 60 runs came to an end in the 13th over when Rohit walked away with a simple catch at mid-on off Tickner. But Gill continued his flow against spin.

Gill could have been dismissed by the off-spin of Michael Bracewell had captain Tom Latham not missed a catching and stumping opportunity in the 19th over. On the fifth ball of the over, he brought up his half-century with a slog-sweep over deep mid-wicket for a six.

But he was losing a partner at the other end as left-arm spinner Santner bowled Virat Kohli. Four overs later, Ishaan was caught by the keeper off the bowling of Kishan Ferguson.

Gill found a partner in Suryakumar Yadav, who showed excellent timing in his punch, drive, flick against the fast bowlers, sweeping against Bracewell for four fours. The young opener didn’t even spare the balls of Tickner and Daryl Mitchell, hitting one boundary after another.

Mitchell broke the 65-run partnership in the 29th over by driving Suryakumar and hitting straight to the leaping cover fielder. Gill made 99 using the crease to pull Santner on the backfoot for a six over mid-wicket, before bringing up his third ODI century in 87 balls.

Gill continued to use his feet to drive against the spinners, while baffling the fast bowlers. He got another lifeline in the 38th over when Shipley failed to take his catch. Gill hit a brilliant off-drive on the very next ball for a four.

His impressive form against the spinners continued when he pulled Santner on the backfoot over mid-wicket for six and then used the pitch to hit Bracewell over wide long-on to reach his 150.

He was supported by Hardik Pandya, who hit three boundaries in his 38-ball 28, before being bowled by Mitchell in the 40th over. The 74-run partnership between them came to an end.

Washington Sundar also could not support Gill for long and returned to the pavilion. After this, Gill completed his double century in the 49th over by hitting a hat-trick of sixes at fine leg, long off and straight down the ground. He hit another six over long-on in the final over and was caught by Shipley for 208.

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