ChristchurchMartin Guptill, who became the highest run scorer in one-day international cricket this calendar year set a new record to score the fastest ODI 50 by any New Zealander. The 29-year-old Aucklander, achieved the feat in 17 balls, as the hosts thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets on Monday to take lead 2-0 in the five-match series in Christchurch.
Guptill, who had a stellar year now has 1459 runs in ODIs this year at staggering average of 56.15, overtook Kane Williamson as the leading run scorer in ODIs in 2015 with a belligerent 79 in the series opener on Boxing Day.
Kiwi skipper McCullum did not open the New Zealand innings after injuring himself when he crashed into the fence to save a boundary. The 34-year-old McCullum has been battling the back injury is set to retire after the Australia series in February.
While chasing the low-scoring total of 117, Guptill and Test opener Tom Latham, who was brought into the side as cover for Williamson, put Sri Lankan bowling line-up to the sword.
Guptill overtook Brendon McCullum’s record of 18 balls set at the World Cup in Wellington against England this year when he eventually pushed Sachithra Senanayake into the leg-side for one to bring up the milestone.
The first time I thought about that was when the umpire said You’ve got two balls to get it. I was just swinging. I was just trying to hit as many runs as I could as quick as I could, Guptill said.
Guptill, after being dropped on the first ball he faced, finished with 93 unbeaten off 30 balls, had a chance to beat South African veteran AB de Villiers world record of 16 balls for 50, set against the West Indies at Johannesburg in January this year.
However, a couple of deliveries when he could manage only one ended that hope. Guptill’s innings included nine fours and eight sixes and the ground simply wasn’t big enough for him.
27 runs came on the bowling of fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera’s second over, and 26 from the first over in ODI cricket by legspinner Jeff Vandersay.
The Kiwis openers reached the target off only 8.2 overs, Latham, who was merely a spectator finished off on 17 in 20 balls, and hitting the winning runs.
Guptill played a superb innings, you can’t describe that. You witness once or twice in your life. I thought he was going to get the world record as well, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said.
Sri Lanka, after winning the toss, produced a poor batting display again before Lankan captain Angelo Mathews described the wicket good for batting.
Five batsmen got to double figures but none managed more than Nuwan Kulasekara’s 19, he was dropped twice. They were dismissed for a paltry 117 in just 27.4 overs. Sri Lanka passed their lowest score against New Zealand, 112 at Christchurch eight years ago.
Sri Lanka were in trouble early when key batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan was out in the fourth over, lobbing a catch to first slip off seamer Matt Henry when he charged initially then seemed to change his mind and fended the ball off his glove.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Danushka Gunathilaka departed within five balls shortly after, the former steering an upper cut straight to third man, the latter out to a fine diving catch at cover by Mitchell Santner.
Sri Lanka’s were wobbling at 31 for three and they desperately needed something of substance from their two best batsmen, captain Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal.
Chandimal went lbw to Doug Bracewell to start a slide of five wickets in 37 balls. Mathews played some fine strokes before a tickle to leg side to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi off left armer Mitch McClenaghan.
Milinda Siriwardana pushed McClenaghan to the point where Henry Nicholls took a low catch before Chamara Kapugedera was run out in a shocking mix-up.
McClenaghan took three for 32 with one apiece to Bracewell and legspinner Ish Sodhi. Pacer Matt Henry stars again for the second time in three days. He had the best figures, four for 33 off 9.4 overs.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews described his side’s performance as “embarrassing” and “pathetic”.
We didn’t give our bowlers a chance to bowl at them. We’ve got three matches to go. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t even compete in the first couple of games but hopefully we’ll turn it around in Nelson, Matthews added.
The third ODI will be played on Thursday in Nelson.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
