Guptill’s ton powers Kiwis
Martin Guptill made the highest score by a New Zealand batsman in a one-day international as England again paid the price for dropping him.
Guptill’s 189 not out was the cornerstone of New Zealand’s 359/3 at Southampton on Sunday, their highest ODI total against England topping the 340/7 they made in Napier in 2008.
The opener’s innings surpassed Lou Vincent’s previous New Zealand record of 172 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2005, and was the equal fourth highest in history.
England need to beat their previous record ODI winning chase of 306/5 against Pakistan in Karachi in 2000 if they are to level this three-match series at 1-1.
The 26-year-old Guptill’s 103 not out at Lord’s on Friday had powered New Zealand to a five-wicket win. But, as happened at Lord’s, Guptill was again dropped on 13 with Chris Woakes once more the unlucky bowler.
Woakes’s first over on Sunday saw a Guptill pull go straight through Jonathan Trott’s hands at mid-wicket.
That was the only chance Guptill gave in a 155-ball innings featuring two sixes and 19 fours .
Together with Kane Williamson (55) and Ross Taylor (60) he shared partnerships of 120 and 109 respectively following the early loss of Luke Ronchi.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who won the toss on a typically good Southampton pitch, was 40 not out after adding an unbroken 118 in a mere 50 balls for the fourth wicket with Guptill.
James Anderson took two for 65 as he equalled Darren Gough’s England record haul of 234 one-day international wickets.
Anderson apart, England’s attack, again missing injured seamers Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin), struggled to make an impression.
Ronchi, out for nought on his New Zealand debut on Friday, was bowled by Anderson for two.
But New Zealand’s second-wicket pair were largely untroubled until Williamson was bowled by off-spinner Graeme Swann.
Guptill went on to his fourth century in 71 ODis off just 111 balls with a pulled six off Woakes and seven fours.
Taylor eventually holed out off Anderson, having scored at better than a run-a-ball.
Anderson nearly had the England record for ODI wickets all to himself when McCullum hammered a low full toss into the deep.
Post new comment