Guptill’s heavy bat sinks Aussies
Dunedin – Veteran batsman Martin Guptill returned to form with a blistering 97 as New Zealand held on for a nail-biting win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international in Dunedin yesterday.
Guptill’s Black Caps set Australia a challenging target of 220 after losing the toss but were made to sweat as Australia came within four runs of victory.
Both sides took advantage of University Oval’s short boundaries in a thrilling match that featured 30 sixes and 434 runs (average 10.9 an over).
Marcus Stoinis starred for the Australians with 78 from 37 balls but Guptill’s 97 from 50 laid the foundation for the win.
Black Caps spinner Mitchell Santner also shone amid the batting fireworks, taking 4/31, while Aussie paceman Kane Richardson managed 3/43.
New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham was another exceptional performer, taking two wickets in the final over when Australia needed 15 runs.
Neesham also scored an undefeated 45, including six sixes.
The result puts New Zealand 2-0 up in the five-match series, on the brink of a shock win over the world’s No 2 Twenty20 team.
Guptill’s innings gave him the record for the most sixes in Twenty20 internationals with 132, taking him past India’s Rohit Sharma on 127.
He fell just short of his third Twenty20 ton after being caught trying to hit a Daniel Sams delivery out of the ground.
Guptill averaged only 17 in the recent series against the West Indies and Pakistan before picking up a hamstring injury.
He insisted he had not changed his approach during the game-turning innings.
“I just went out and tried to do the best I could – fortunately for me it came off,” he said.
While Guptill provided fireworks at one end, Kane Williamson was steady at the other, scoring 53 off 35 balls.