Guptill blasts big ton; Neesham slams sixes

Returned New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill appeared anything but out of touch as he and his team-mates plundered runs against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui yesterday.

The Black Caps opener hadn’t played for the national side for 10 months due to injury and admitted prior to play at Bay Oval that he ‘‘may be a bit rusty’’.

Instead, he flourished by making 138 – his 14th ODI century – as New Zealand reached an imposing 371-7 in 50 overs.

Guptill and captain Kane Williamson (74) formed a partnership of 163 which fell short of New Zealand’s ODI best for the second wicket of 179 between Williamson and Neil Broom against Bangladesh in Nelson in 2016.

Guptill – who has a career-best

237 not out in ODIs, made in the

2015 World Cup quarterfinal against the West Indies in Wellington – batted for 42.2 overs. He thumped five sixes and 11 fours in facing 139 balls in front of a healthy Bay Oval crowd on a warm afternoon.

Ross Taylor added a rapid 54 off 37 balls after Williamson’s departure before the recalled Jimmy Neesham smote five sixes in the penultimate over as he blazed his way to 47 not out off 13 balls. Neesham hit the five sixes, a two and a single in an over from Thisara Perera that included a no-ball that enlivened the crowd.

It was an innings that will have done his World Cup selection chances no harm at all.

PHIL WALTER/ GETTY IMAGES The Black Caps resembled the All Blacks when they began their home ODI season yesterday. A new one-day outfit for the New Zealand cricket side features a white collar on a black shirt – reminiscent of the traditional garb of the national rugby side before collars disappeared – and white piping, with black trousers. The Black Caps have sported a host of different coloured clothing for one-day internationals over the past decades – including the famed beige of the early 1980s along with teal and blue being prominent in other playing strips. For full match report, go to stuff. co.nz

GETTY IMAGES Jimmy Neesham launches his attack against Sri Lanka.