‘It’s a pretty cool feeling, to be fair’
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill has described his record-breaking innings of 237 not out in Wellington on Saturday as 'pretty cool' and said he just tried to play each ball on its merits.
Guptill broke Chris Gayle's record for the highest World Cup score, the 215 Gayle had made earlier in this event, and also became the first Kiwi to score an ODI double ton. The 143-run win saw New Zealand advance to the semi-finals and face South Africa.
Guptill started quite slowly and scored his first half century off 64 balls, but his ton came off 116 balls, and his 200 off just 152, so he scored that second ton off just 36 deliveries. His knock included 11 sixes.
Guptill said after the match: "It's a pretty cool feeling to be fair. That's what I tried to do today, I'm just lucky it paid off.
"We had a couple of good partnerships early to set us up to explode at the end. We were trying to take each ball as it comes and rotate the strike. We did that well and it worked out.
"After I got 100 I thought I should hit some boundaries. It was the quickest outfield I have played on here and you got value for shots.
"It was an incredible crowd. We will let this one sink in tonight and focus on the semi-finals tomorrow. We have work to do so I can't focus on it too much."
Latest
-
NewsOn this day in 2013: David Warner suspended for altercation with Joe Root
The Australia batsman was banned from all cricket up to the first Ashes Test that summer and fined almost £7,000.
-
NewsEngland staring at New Zealand series defeat after day three of second Test
Sri Lanka were the last touring side to deal England a bloody nose on their own soil.
-
NewsChris Silverwood admits England’s performance is not good enough in second Test
The game was all but lost by stumps with the scoreboard reading 122 for nine.
-
NewsEngland collapse leaves dominant New Zealand on brink of memorable series win
England have not lost a home series since 2014.
-
NewsNew Zealand on top in second Test after England openers fall
A last-wicket partnership had earlier helped hand the Black Caps a handy lead.
-
NewsNew Zealand move into lead as England struggle in the field
The Black Caps were 74 behind at the start of play and 23 ahead as they reached lunch on 326 for five.
-
NewsChris Woakes makes long-awaited return to England’s Twenty20 squad
David Willey and Liam Dawson are also included.
-
NewsECB to undertake social media review following emergence of offensive posts
The ECB said the review would ‘address any historical issues’.
-
NewsLaurie Evans and Sam Curran’s century stand inspires Surrey to another Blast win
Curran’s career-best 72 not out featured six maximums and five other boundaries.
-
NewsEbony Rainford-Brent praises ECB stance on historical racist and sexist tweets
Sussex seamer Robinson has issued an apology for posts he sent in 2012 and 2013.