New Zealand’s Martin Guptill kept getting runs from the time he took his guard against the West Indies in the last quarterfinal of the 2015 World Cup in Wellington. He not only stayed unbeaten till the end, but also became the fifth player in the world to make a double hundred in the history of ODI cricket.
This was the first double hundred from a New Zealand cricketer, highest individual score in a World Cup and second double hundred in the World Cup history.
He made 237 from only 163 balls with 24 hits to the boundary and 11 sixes. It was a knock filled with shots all over the wicket. Thanks to his knock, New Zealand made 393 for six. Earlier, Guptill was dropped when on four by the West Indies fielder Marlon Samuels in the fine-leg.
This was the first over of the match and after getting life, there wasn’t any looking back for the New Zealand batsman. He was just ecstatic and treated the West Indies bowlers as if he was playing a club match. Till the 35th over of the New Zealand, the score was well within control. The hosts were 187 for two with a run-rate of 5.34 and Guptill was batting on 100 off 111 balls.
But from the 36th over, New Zealand started to accelerate and in last 15 overs, they made 206 runs. Guptill made another 137 from 52 deliveries. It was merciless hitting. This colossal knock from the New Zealander has really set great standards on the field.
For the West Indies, it was only Darren Sammy who was the most economical bowler in the team followed by Sulieman Benn. None of other pacers could do anything to stop Guptill. It was a one-sided show.
Guptill reached his double century off 152 balls, with the help of 21 fours and 8 sixes. Incidentally, this was Guptill’s second hundred in a row. He had scored 105 against Bangladesh in the last league match of Pool A. From seven matches in the World Cup so far in the World Cup, Guptill has 498 runs with an average of 83.
He is the also the second highest run-scorer in this World Cup after Kumar Sangakkara. Overall, this is the sixth double century in One-day internationals. Sachin Tendulkar was the first to hit the first double century in ODIs, followed by Virender Sehwag. Rohit Sharma achieved the feat twice and Gayle became the first non-Indian batsman to hit double century in the ODIs.
