Cricket fans hailed New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell (140 off 78 balls) for his gritty knock against India in the first ODI on Wednesday (January 18), at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.Indian opener Shubman Gill's (208 off 149 balls) magnificent double-hundred set Blackcaps up for a mammoth 350 to chase in the second innings.Finn Allen (40 off 39 balls) showed some intent in the powerplay after the dismissal of Devon Conway in the sixth over. Allen was caught by substitute fielder Shahbaz Ahmed off Shardul Thakur's bowling while mistiming the pull shot.Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked up the wickets of Henry Nicholls (18) and Daryl Mitchell (9) in back-to-back overs. A solid partnership between stand-in skipper Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips was the need of the hour. Both batters, however, consumed many deliveries in the middle and added a mere 24 and 11 respectively.Michael Bracewell walked in to bat at No. 7 in the 25th over after Mohammed Shami cleaned up Phillips. A few overs later, Latham, too, departed as New Zealand were reeling at 131 for 6 in 29 overs. It looked as if the match would wrap up very soon as Indian bowlers were hitting lines and lengths with utmost accuracy.However, Bracewell, who was playing his first game in India, had some different plans on the cards. The left-handed batter played an aggressive counter-attacking innings to almost pull the game for the tourists.The Kiwi scored 140 off 78 balls, his innings laced with 12 fours and 10 sixes, striking at 179.49. He was involved in a 162-run partnership with Mitchell Santner (57 off 45 balls) as the duo recorded the highest partnership for the seventh-wicket in New Zealand's ODI history.Bracewell toyed with the line and length of the Indian bowlers, taking them to the cleaners nonchalantly. He smashed the likes of Shami, Shardul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, and Washington Sundar.Bracewell's act of sheer brilliance took the game to the last over where New Zealand needed 20 runs to win. He pummeled Shardul Thakur for a six over wide long-on to put the bowler under pressure.After bowling a wide delivery, Shardul bowled a yorker at leg stump to trap the southpaw for a leg-before wicket. India won the match by 12 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Twitter users react to Bracewell's tremendous knock under pressureDK@DineshKarthikBRACEWELL #INDvsNZ452895BRACEWELL 😱😯😳#INDvsNZVikrant Gupta@vikrantgupta73One of the best, and most valiant knock by Bracewell! No matter what the Kiwis don’t just give up. India would be relieved #IndvNZ315287One of the best, and most valiant knock by Bracewell! No matter what the Kiwis don’t just give up. India would be relieved #IndvNZBharath Ramaraj@Fancricket12We have seen in his brief international career that M Bracewell can be dangerous lower down the order.NZ building a good core for the WC.18210We have seen in his brief international career that M Bracewell can be dangerous lower down the order.NZ building a good core for the WC.Rajasthan Royals@rajasthanroyalsThat was outrageous! Well played, Bracewell. 190283That was outrageous! Well played, Bracewell. 👏 https://t.co/foQqr4POS9Vimal कुमार@Vimalwa#Bracewell almost overshadowed #Siraj . #INDvsNZ #Crickettwitter43920#Bracewell almost overshadowed #Siraj . #INDvsNZ #Crickettwitter https://t.co/o69BpeXBZJHarsha Bhogle@bhogleharshaWhat a player this Michael Bracewell is! At 131-6, it seemed a matter of time but we have been treated to some extraordinary cricket. Clean, powerful hitting.3276146What a player this Michael Bracewell is! At 131-6, it seemed a matter of time but we have been treated to some extraordinary cricket. Clean, powerful hitting.CricketMAN2@ImTanujSinghGreat gesture from Virat Kohli - He appreciates Michael Bracewell's innings and his efforts after the match.80877Great gesture from Virat Kohli - He appreciates Michael Bracewell's innings and his efforts after the match. https://t.co/rt2JlP2hp2Sagar@sagarcasmExtraordinary innings Michael Bracewell. Completely overshadowed the double centurian3709217Extraordinary innings Michael Bracewell. Completely overshadowed the double centurian https://t.co/qmxP2vB8cwFarid Khan@_FaridKhan140 off 78 balls by Michael Bracewell. Take a bow, respect #INDvNZ134348140 off 78 balls by Michael Bracewell. Take a bow, respect 👏👏 #INDvNZPratham.@75thHundredWhenMichael Bracewell won hearts, kidneys and Lungs 🏻20821Michael Bracewell won hearts, kidneys and Lungs 👏🏻🔥https://t.co/2zYeim3b1TDimuth Karunarathna@IamDimuthWhat a match..Well played Bracewell..Really well played man.#INDvNZ66220What a match..👌Well played Bracewell..Really well played man.#INDvNZMunaf Patel@munafpa99881129What a fight back from @BLACKCAPS #Bracewell & #Santner partnership was remarkable.Minyaan @mdsirajofficial have once again done it for #TeamIndia15711What a fight back from @BLACKCAPS #Bracewell & #Santner partnership was remarkable.Minyaan @mdsirajofficial have once again done it for #TeamIndia https://t.co/yWo1U5e5yQAshutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳@sri_ashutosh08Michael Bracewell one man army for New Zealand, well played #MichaelBracewell 17920Michael Bracewell one man army for New Zealand, well played 🙏#MichaelBracewell https://t.co/cQagOwGarAMonu@twitsporttMad respect for Michael Bracewell.... Almost won the game out of nowhere.. U won our hearts kidneys livers lips everything man.. #Michaelbracewell #INDvsNZMad respect for Michael Bracewell..🙏.. Almost won the game out of nowhere.. U won our hearts kidneys livers lips everything man.. #Michaelbracewell #INDvsNZ https://t.co/27fhWMAaqMSubrata Shrivastava@SubrataVineet#NZvIND India win by 12 runs as Michael Bracewell wins the hearts on Shubman Gill's day!1#NZvIND India win by 12 runs as Michael Bracewell wins the hearts on Shubman Gill's day! https://t.co/6YDYh5YYfVShubman Gill was awarded player of the match for bailing out India from the hole with a maiden double-ton in ODI cricket. He struck 19 fours and 9 sixes in his 149-ball 208 to put India in a commanding position of 349-8 after 50 overs.