IND vs NZ: Michael Bracewell backs New Zealand for strong comeback
New Zealand star all-rounder Michael Bracewell is backing his team despite losing the first two T20Is against India. Ahead of the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday, he acknowledged that the Kiwis need to put together a complete team effort. New Zealand are trailing 0-2 in the ongoing five-match series and must win to keep their hopes alive. Another defeat would hand India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
India staged impressive comebacks in both opening encounters. New Zealand had opportunities to win both matches but failed to capitalise on their strong positions. In the first T20I, the Kiwis failed to defend a mammoth target of 226 runs, while in the second match, they reduced India to 70/5 while defending 181. However, their bowling became ordinary in the death overs on both occasions, allowing India to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
"I think it has been an exciting series so far. Obviously, we have been on the wrong side of both of those games, but I think it is been pretty evident in the finishes that it has been a very close series so far. Yeah, there is a few things that we would like to have back in terms of the last 2 games, but we will be looking to right those wrongs coming here in Wellington," Bracewell said, as quoted by the press.
Bracewell also highlighted India's aggressive approach in the powerplay. He noted that the spin partnership between himself and captain Mitchell Santner played a crucial role in restricting India's scoring during the middle overs, but stressed the need to apply pressure from the very beginning.
"I think they have got off to pretty hot starts in the powerplay. It is definitely something they look to target as a team, so to be able to slow them down in the middle has been hugely beneficial. Mitch (Santner) has done that for years and years now, so it is always great to see him bowling so well and containing them," Bracewell said.
The New Zealand all-rounder also praised Santner's bowling performance in the second T20I, where the skipper claimed four wickets to put the Kiwis in a match-winning position. However, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy turned the game around, shattering New Zealand's hopes of securing a victory.
"And then also the other night, taking 4 wickets as well was huge to get us into that game and put us right on top at that period. So there is, as I say, there have been a lot of positives to take of the first 2 matches, and we are really looking forward to tomorrow night and another opportunity to take on a world-class side," he concluded.
The two teams will now face each other in the third T20I in Wellington, where India will aim to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, while New Zealand will look to rectify their mistakes and keep the series alive.
