Guptill unbeaten 180 helps NZ level series

HAMILTON: Martin Guptill underlined his importance to the New Zealand one-day side with a blistering match-winning century as he guided his side to a sevenwicket victory over South Africa in their fourth one-day international in Hamilton.

Guptill, who had suffered two separate hamstring strains and not played for a month, scored 180 not out and combined with Ross Taylor (66) in a 180-run partnership to take New Zealand to 280-3 in 45 overs.

The 30-year-old blasted 11 sixes and 15 boundaries in his swashbuckling 138-ball knock to secure a win which locked the five-match series at 2-2 with the decider at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

South Africa’s 279 8 had been ers, who flayed New Zealand bowlers all around Seddon Park in the final few ‘death’ overs to finish on 72 not out.

The total had looked to be a difficult one to achieve on the slow-paced pitch but Guptill seized control of the chase with arguably the best innings of his career.

He brought up his half century off 38 balls and then had an lbw decision to Dwaine Pretorius on 62 overturned on review before he reached his 12th ODI century from 82 balls, which included 12 boundaries and four sixes.

De Villiers again combined with the bowlers to finish off the innings as they scored 104 runs in the final 10 overs, with 72 coming in the final five.

SA 279/8 (Ab de Villiers 72 n.o, F du Plessis 66, Hashim Amla 40, Jeetan Patel 2/57) NZ 280/3 (M Guptill