GUP FOR THE CHASE
Kiwi opener blasts Lankans in 30 balls
MARTIN Guptill flirted with a world record as he guided New Zealand to a 10-wicket smashing of Sri Lanka in their second one-day international in Christchurch yesterday.
Guptill, who was 46 off 13 balls, had AB de Villiers’ record of 16 balls for a half-century in his sights before two yorkers from Nuwan Kulasekara ended the bid.
Instead, he claimed the Kiwi mark when he brought up his 50 off 17 balls, with five boundaries and four sixes, as the Black Caps chased down Sri Lanka’s 117 in just 8.2 overs.
Guptill said he had no idea he was close to de Villiers’ record until umpire Richard Illingworth mentioned it.
“I am pretty happy with the way things are going, (but) I’ll take a 90no and the win rather than the fastest 50 and getting out,” Guptill said.
Guptill ended with 93no from 30 balls, while Tom Latham was on 17 as the hosts finished on 0-118 to achieve victory before the scheduled break.
It was the second successive heavy defeat for the visitors at Hagley Oval, after they were bowled out for 188 in the first game on Saturday.
Guptill and captain Brendon McCullum put on a century stand in 10 overs.
Despite a more aggressive start than the previous match on the same pitch, none of the Sri Lankan top six batsmen scored more than 17.
All-rounder Kulasekara topscored with 19.
“It was quite embarrassing,” Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews said.
“It was a pathetic batting display by the whole unit.
“We did not give our bowlers a chance to bowl at them,” he added.
Matt Henry finished with 4-33 for the hosts as they took a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series.