New Zealand’s right-handed batsman Martin Guptill stormed into second fastest fifty off 17 balls at Hagley Oval, Christchurch after Yuvraj Singh 12 balls half century in T20 World Cup.
New Zealand has won the match by 10 wickets. Sri Lanka batting first folded up for 117 runs. Matt Henry has again become their tormentor as he took four wickets while Mitchell McClenaghan took three.
With a diminutive total has to chase down Tom Latham came to open the innings, Martin Guptill. Guptill continued his form of the last match. In the first match he a 56 ball 75. So, in the second match, he made Sri Lankan bowlers his favourite dishes again as he hit an unbeaten 30 balls 93 run innings. His innings cruised New Zealand to the 10 wicket victory in 40 minutes with 41 overs remaining.
Guptill completed his fifty of 17 balls, which is the second fastest in the ODI cricket history and fastest in the history of New Zealand cricket.
Sri Lanka got an easy opportunity to start their bowling with Guptill’s wicket. But, leg slip fielder dropped the catch, the ball went to the boundary for four. After this first ball hurdle, Guptill went to hit 9 boundaries and 6 sixes.
When Guptill was hammering Sri Lankan bowlers Latham at the non-striking has nothing to do but to watch and enjoy his opening partner’s blitzkrieg knock.
Guptill’s blast is not new in world cricket. He is the first batsman to script the record of world cup double hundred.
His Hagley Oval knock is the reminder of his World Cup knock. Brendon McCullum who hit 23 balls fifty in the last match today enjoy and appreciated Guptill’s innings from the dressing room.
With this ODI victory, New Zealand is now leading the five-match series 2-0. The next match will be played on December 31.
Watch Guptill’s innings