Martin Guptill set a New Zealand, World Cup, career and unbeaten record of 237 on Saturday to catapult the Kiwis into the first semi against South Africa at Eden Park.
It was a privilege to watch Guptill from the first ball of the innings, on-driving Jerome Taylor for four, to the last ball stroking Andre Russell through midwicket for two.
In between there were no smart aleck shots, no reverse sweeps, no scoops, no ramps, just pure power, precision and placement that netted the opener 24 fours and 11 sixes.
The capacity crowd of 30,268 was treated to champagne cricket. New Zealand clubbed 6-393, and the Wests Indies replied with 250 all out.
That’s 683 runs off just 80.3 overs, that saw a record 31 deliveries sail over the fence. Guptill’s 11, two to Grant Elliott, celebrating his 36th birthday, and one each for Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson for the Black Caps, and for the Windies, Chris Gayle with eight, two each for Russell and Taylor, and one each for Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter and Darren Sammy.
But it wasn’t a happy game for Samuels, dropping Guptill off the third ball of the game when he was only on four, and being caught himself in full flight by ageless Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori, who leapt high to his left to snare the chance one-handed on the point fence.
Had Vettori been somewhere else in the field, that would have been the 32nd six.
Two other highlights are very worthy of mention.
Gayle’s lightning 61 off 33 with two fours and those eight sixes gave Windies supporters some early hope, and Kiwi paceman Trent Boult’s 4-44 off 10 shot him to the top of the tournament wicket-takers.
So the World Cup semis are set with the four best teams qualifying – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and India – and it will be the attacks that will win berths for the decider.
The Black Caps will have Boult and his 19 scalps at 14.63, Vettori’s 15 at 15.73, Tim Southee’s 15 at 23.46, and the under-rated Anderson with 11 at 14.09.
South Africa will look to their leggie Imran Tahir and his 15 wickets at 18.86, Morne Morkel 14 at 17.14, Kyle Abbott nine at 14.44, and Dale Steyn, who is starting to hit his straps, despite poor figures of 10 at 27 for such an elite bowler. Vernon Philander is still on the injured list, explaining his four wickets at 20.75.
Mitchell Starc will spearhead the Australian attack with his 18 at a mere 9.77, with support from Mitchell Johnson with 10 at 24.60 – he’s a more destructive bowler than those figures suggest. Plus Josh Hazlewood with six at 17.50, and James Faulkner with four at 25.50.
India will be served by Mohammed Shami’s 17 wickets at 13.29, Umesh Yadav’s 14 at 17.78, offie Ravi Ashwin’s 12 at 24, Mohit Sharma 11 at 21.72, and Ravi Jadeja’s nine at 33.44, and he’s a far better bowler than that, as well.
Both Eden Park on Tuesday, and the SCG on Thursday, will reward line and length bowlers with bounce. Stray, and the likes of AB de Villiers, Brendon McCullum, David Warner and Virat Kohli will pounce.
There promises to be many absorbing battles in both semis.
The V Man
Guest
I think that is the greatest post I have ever read.....
moaman
Guest
Well done Perry ;-)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes and Eden park is reportedly the smallest ground in this tournament, yet 288 is the highest score on it, including Oz's effort of 152. There are at least 4 300+ scores on the MCG. Perhaps we should re measure them because surely that can't be right If the assumption is that 'size matters'?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Has been for a couple of years now. Where do these people come from...
Chris
Guest
I stopped reading when I saw Southee and world class in the same sentence.
Freighter
Guest
Is the first semi final game at Eden park?? What a disgrace!
Freighter
Guest
Why do so many English teachers use The Roar?
Freighter
Guest
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TheMonkeyThatLivesInYourHead
Guest
The shortest boundary is 68 metres at the cake tin (square where almost no sixes were hit at least by Guptill), the longest 88 (on par with the MCG). The overall dimensions are as large as most English and Sri Lankan grounds, larger than most SA grounds and as large as many of India’s and even Australia’s smaller international grounds. Guptill hit the longest 6 of the tournament, he probably hit the second longest too. This all done at a ground where teams have been rolled for sub 230 scores, often, over the last 2 years. Incidentally, for those not as cognitively challenged as ak, the scores have been higher on average in the Australian based games than the NZ ones despite the smaller grounds. The smallest ground, Eden park, which would not qualify now under the standards for international stadia (but because it was a preexisting international; ground before standardisation was introduced gets to keep being an International venue), has averaged the lowest of all the grounds to have hosted more than one game in the tournament. So it seems ground size is not a contributing factor. Field restrictions, 20/20 innovations, good batsmanship, bad, conservative captaincy and pitches (especially aussie ones) resembling roads are more to blame for inflated scores
Sylvester
Guest
The teams with competent bowling attacks haven't been taken to for the most part in this WC. NZ - on their so-called miniature grounds - haven't conceded 300 in 16 games this year.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Did anyone actually mention Warner's innings or say it was truly special??? We know you envy the Australian team but it's getting borderline unhealthy here...
Renegade
Guest
One man team... have you watched many of the Australian games?? Just about everyone has contributed to the side in this World Cup. Let's also remember how pathetic the Kiwi batting was against the swing of Starc.... two can play this silly game.
Bobbo7
Guest
Yes and same for both sides so what does it matter?
Lea
Guest
Aussies also know how to have a laugh Clark, read the thread again. Shoot from the hip much, lighten up.
Clark
Guest
Yeah and Afghanistan were bowling absolute peaches when Warner got 170 odd...
Clark
Guest
You're right about Warner and Finch. I think their highest opening partnership is 50 odd this tournament. But you are hardly going to change it now.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Apologies - I was distracted at the time which only in part explains my poor grammar and spelling. And yes - having visited Vanuatu last year (caught up with some locals running AFL Vanuatu) - my family and I have been watching on with tremendous sadness at the catastrophic devastation there (the right 'there' this time!!!). I have done some stories on another website about AFL Vanuatu and the Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball club who have visited a couple of times post season - and have helped with the AFL, Cricket, netball in Vanuatu as well as the hospital. Hopefully the shipping containers that hold the sports equipment are all firmly still in place - alas the hospital took damage. More work to be done.
raz
Guest
I guess no one has a problem with NZ winning.They ll be my pick to win too,if India doesnt make it past Australia
Clark
Guest
Do you guys think you can go the whole way being a one man team and putting your eggs in one basket. Let's remember how pathetic Australia's batting was against the swing of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Clark
Guest
What ever makes you happy mate, we all know the Aussies have a hard time giving credit where it's due.