Martin Guptill made an instant impact on his ODI debut for New Zealand against West Indies in 2009. The debut couldn’t have come at a better place as the young opener played in front of his home fans.
The right-handed batter scored a century on debut to serve notice to bowlers across the world. Martin Guptill was earmarked as the next big thing from New Zealand as the heir apparent to Nathan Astle for his power and panache and Martin Crowe for his timing and style.
There was no looking back for Martin Guptill as he became a key part of the team for Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, and Kane Williamson. The right-handed batter was part of New Zealand’s two ODI World Cup finals losses in 2015 and 2019 to Australia and England. The latter in particular will be painful for Martin Guptill.
Needing 2 runs to win off 1 ball in the first-ever super over to decide the World Cup winners, Guptill was run out. The Kiwis couldn’t have tied it for a second time as the home team were ahead on the boundary count. As soon as Jos Buttler pulled off the bails, Guptill buried his head into the ground in one of the most heartbreaking images in the tournament’s history.
Here are the top 3 performances by Martin Guptill in ODI cricket
3- 180 not out vs South Africa – Hamilton -2017
South Africa batted first and scored 279 on the board from their 50 overs. Skipper AB De Villiers was the best batter with 72 while Faf Du Plessis scored 67 for the visitors. In reply, Martin Guptill took off and decimated the Proteas bowlers to score 180 not out. His knock came off 138 balls with 15 fours and 11 sixes. Ross Taylor was the next best batter with 66 runs off 97 balls with 7 fours and a six. New Zealand won the game by 7 wickets with 5 overs to spare.
2- 189 not out vs England – Southampton -2013
23-year-old Martin Guptill had already scored a century at the home of cricket during the earlier ODI against England. New Zealand then moved to Southampton to play the 2nd game of the series. Batting first the visiting side scored 359/3 from their 50 overs. Martin Guptill carried his bat and scored 189 not out from 155 balls with 19 fours and 2 sixes. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson scored fifties to compound more misery on the English. In reply, Johnathon Trott scored 109 off 104 balls with five fours and a six as the England side were all out for 273 to lose by 86 runs.
1- 237 not out vs West Indies – Wellington -2015
Martin Guptill had a terrific 2015 as that was the only year he had scored over 1000 runs in ODI Cricket. The Kiwi star scored 1489 runs from 32 games with 4 centuries and 8 fifties. The right-handed batter also scored 547 runs with a century against Bangladesh followed by a massive double ton in the 4th Quarter Finals against West Indies.
New Zealand batted 1st and scored a mammoth 393/6 from their 50 overs. Martin Guptill stunned his home fans as well as the West Indian bowlers with 237 not out. The knock came off 163 balls with 24 fours and 11 sixes. West Indies were all out for 250 in the 31st over to lose by 143 runs as Trent Boult picked 4 wickets to help the Kiwis reach the semi-finals.
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