/ 10 January 2009

Guptill shines with century on New Zealand debut

A record-setting 122 not out by New Zealand debutant Martin Guptill brightened an otherwise dismal day in Auckland on Saturday.

A record-setting 122 not out by New Zealand debutant Martin Guptill brightened an otherwise dismal day here on Saturday as the fourth one-day international against the West Indies was washed out.

Guptill, starting in his specialist opening position after Jesse Ryder was dropped for disciplinary reasons, batted right through the innings as New Zealand made 275 for four.

Along the way he set the highest one-day international score by a New Zealander on debut, the second-highest maiden innings in the history of ODI cricket, behind West Indian Desmond Haynes 148 against
Australia in 1978, and the highest unbeaten debut.

”I can’t really describe the emotions,” he said when reflecting in his achievement.

”I was a bit nervy getting that first run was a weight off my shoulders.”

He was also anxious when he took the long handle to Chris Gayle on 97 and brought up his century with a towering six.

”It was a spur of the moment thing, at first I thought I’d got under it too much but then it kept going.”

But his heroics were not enough to snap the series deadlock as the match was abandoned with the West Indies 64 without loss chasing a revised target of 235 in 40 overs when rain sent the players off for a second and final time.

The first match in the series was also abandoned because of rain, the West Indies won a rain-shortened second match and the third match, won by New Zealand in Wellington last Wednesday, is the only game to go the full distance.

Weather permitting, the series will now be decided in the fifth and final match at Napier on Tuesday.

Guptill was originally selected for the New Zealand team when Jamie How, who had been struggling for form at number three, was dropped from the side after the third match.

But 22-year-old was then promoted to opener on the eve of the match when Ryder, who has a continuing battle with alcohol, was dropped from the side after a late-night drinking session.

Determined to make the most of the opportunity, Guptill showed no sign of first-match nerves from the time West Indies captain Chris Gayle won the toss and made New Zealand bat in conditions ripe for his
battery of quick bowlers.

He was dropped three times, batted at nearly a run a ball, faced 135 deliveries and struck eight boundaries and two sixes.

”Martin’s innings was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time,” a delighted New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.

”Just the composure of a guy to come in for his first game and not look to accelerate at any stage, he played in a controlled manner the whole time.”

When the New Zealand innings ended, another debutant Neil Broom was also starring at the crease with two sixes in a rapid 24 off 17 deliveries as he and Guptill plundered 59 off the final 35 balls.

But the West Indies suffered from wayward deliveries and some sloppy fielding in which the Guptill benefited from dropped catches on 16, 21 and 33.

New Zealand also profited from 26 extras including 11 wides and two no balls which gave them an additional 13 deliveries to score from.

Guptill opened the innings with the experienced Brendon McCullum but rather than play a support role he scored as freely as his senior partner from the start.

They took the score through to 68 in the 15th over before the West Indies finally made a catch stick when McCullum flailed at a Lionel Baker outswinger and was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin.

The recalled Mathew Sinclair, one of four changes to the New Zealand side which won the third ODI on Wednesday to level the series, found that international cricket still does not agree with him.

He lasted two overs before being dismissed in similar fashion to McCullum as Baker and Ramdin repeated their double act.

Ross Taylor then set about righting the New Zealand innings, piling on 144 with Guptill for the third wicket.

But when they began to push the score in the final 10 overs, Taylor went to belt Fidel Edwards out of the park only to completely miss the ball which crashed into his off stump.

Daniel Flynn came and went for a duck in the space of two balls, bringing Broom to the crease.

Baker was the most successful and most economical of the West Indies bowlers, taking two for 29 off his 10 overs, although he also contributed five wides.

Gayle led the West Indies run charge, racing to 46 from 37 balls –including four fours and three sixes — while Sewnarine Chattergoon was left not out 17. – AFP

 

AFP