Proteas undone by Guptill masterclass

New Zealand's Martin Guptill celebrates his century with Ross Taylor during Wednesday's ODI win over the Proteas in Hamilton. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

New Zealand's Martin Guptill celebrates his century with Ross Taylor during Wednesday's ODI win over the Proteas in Hamilton. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Published Mar 1, 2017

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South Africa ran into a frightful Martin Guptill masterclass, as the returning Kiwi top-order star belted a sensational 180 not out, from just 138 balls, to lift the Kiwis to a series-levelling, seven wicket win in Hamilton on Wednesday morning.

It was one of the finest one-day centuries in modern times, as the tall right-hander flayed the South African attack to all corners.

Some of Guptill's 11 sixes landed on the outskirts of the ground, as he tore into the bowling with relish. Guptill had missed the start of the tour with hamstring problems, but his stand of 180 with Ross Taylor vindicated the Kiwi selectors' decision to make three changes to their line-up.

Guptill feasted on one too many short balls upfront, and once he got into his stride, he was simply unstoppable. No one was spared, as the short boundaries couldn't hold Guptill's power, tearing into Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius in particular.

Taylor, playing the perfect foil at the other end, chipped in with 66 from 97 balls, happy to feed the eager Guptill the strike.

Imran Tahir took 2/56, and was the hardest man to play on a wicket that did turn as expected. South Africa may well rue not playing an extra spinner, as the slow men held sway.

De Villiers had won the toss and elected to bat first, as South Africa looked to seal the series with one more game still to play. The Proteas got off to the worst possible start, as Quinton de Kock’s run of six innings of 50 or more came to an abrupt end. The left-hander was caught behind off his first ball, from spinner Jeetan Patel, who took the new ball.

Hashim Amla (40) and JP Duminy (25) both looked in decent enough touch to get a big one, but both played on to their stumps on a track that is slightly slow, and turning. Faf du Plessis also fell suddenly, for 67, before De Villiers set out his stall.

Not for the first time in the series, De Villiers relied on the lower-order, with Morris (28) and a 12-ball 29 from Wayne Parnell providing the perfect foil for De Villiers to accelerate alongside, as he went to his 52nd half-century at this level.

De Villiers charged to the finish line, belting some big sixes, as he saw South Africa to what most thought was a testing target.

But no one had reckoned with the Guptill wrecking-ball. That the Black Caps won with a full five overs to spare spoke volumes of the carnage Guptill meted out, and the manner of the Kiwi victory now sets up an intriguing finale.

The fifth and final match of the series is on Saturday in Auckland (3am start).

Independent Media

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