Ireland vs New Zealand: Kiwis stun hosts with 24 runs off last over, wins 1st ODI

MALAHIDE: Michael Bracewell smashed 24 runs in the last over, including a winning six off the penultimate delivery, as New Zealand beat Ireland by one wicket in their first one-day international on Sunday.

New Zealand finished on 305-9 in 49.5 overs at Malahide in reply to Ireland’s 300-9.

The Black Caps looked well out of the contest at 120-5 in the 22nd over but Bracewell hit 127 not out off 82 balls, with the last of his seven sixes finishing the tense contest in style.

The tourists set a record by successfully chasing 20 off the final six balls. That surpassed the previous 50th-over best in ODI games by England against Australia in 1987.

Bracewell sent Craig Young’s first two deliveries for four, launched a six over midwicket, and then found the leg-side boundary again before securing victory with a six which cleared the rope at long-on.

His knock included 20 fours and key stands of 61 for the seventh wicket with Ish Sodhi (25) and 64 for the ninth wicket with Lockie Ferguson (8).

Into the last 10 overs, New Zealand need 101 to win with four wickets in hand.

This one could go down to the wire!

SCORE: https://t.co/iHiY0U5y7J#BackingGreen | #Exchange22 | #ABDIndiaSterlingReserve ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/T4b9XvqVZl

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 10, 2022

The result was tough on Ireland, particularly Harry Tector who scored his first ODI century batting at No. 4 after New Zealand chose to bowl first.

Tector’s emotional celebration — his grandmother died last weekend — came after he brought up his hundred from 109 balls after hitting a fourth successive four off Blair Tickner. He was eventually out for 113.

New Zealand is at the start of a white-ball tour of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

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