Michael Bracewell was run out in ludicrous fashion during the second Test of the two-match series between England and New Zealand, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Following on 226 adrift in the first innings, New Zealand were in delicate position at 297-5 in the second innings before Kane Williamson (132) and Tom Blundell (90) added 158 to give the hosts a real shot at victory.
Bracewell joined Blundell after Harry Brook strangled Williamson down the leg, and the pair pushed New Zealand’s lead to the 250-mark. Then Blundell hit Jack Leach past mid-wicket. As Ben Stokes gave chase, the batters, having comfortably run a brace, saw the potential for a third. Stokes fired in a throw from the deep, and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes maintained a disinterested body language to give Bracewell the impression that he would make his ground safely.
It seemed like Bracewell fell into the trap. Lulled into a false sense of security, he didn’t make the effort to slide his bat into the crease as Foakes whipped the bails off in a flash. He had grounded neither his boot nor his bat inside the crease when Foakes inflicted the run-out. New Zealand fell apart in a jiffy after Bracewell’s schoolboy error, setting England 258 to win.
This is why you run your bat in 😬
A wicket manufactured from out of nowhere! #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/i52FQVyw2H
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 27, 2023
