BLACKCAPS (Martin Guptill 237*, Ross Taylor 42, Grant Elliott 27) v West Indies at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington.
After an unbeaten 237 from Martin Guptill, a four wicket-bag from Trent Boult, one of the best catches you’ll ever see from Dan Vettori and most importantly a 143 win over West Indies – the BLACKCAPS are through to the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
A record knock from Guptill, where he became the first New Zealander to hit a double century in an ODI, led the BLACKCAPS to their highest ever total at 393-6. Despite a blistering knock of 61 from 33 balls from Chris Gayle, the West Indies were unable to challenge the enormous total and eventually all out for 250 after 30.3 overs.
After Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat, Guptill, who was dropped in the first over, made a 143 run partnership with good mate Ross Taylor (42) that changed the game in favour of the home side.
When they came together at the crease, the BLACKCAPS were just getting established at 89-2 after the early loss of Brendon McCullum (10) and Kane Williamson (33).
Guptill brought up his seventh ODI century off 111 balls with an on drive and raised his bat to a raucous reception from the Wellington faithful, becoming the first New Zealander to strike consecutive centuries in a World Cup.
He became only the fifth New Zealander to make two centuries at a World Cup and ended with a new record for the highest score in a World Cup.
At the other end, Corey Anderson (15 from 16) and Grant Elliott (27 from 10) joined in on the attack in the final stages, along with Luke Ronchi (9) and Daniel Vettori (8*) but this day was all about Martin Guptill.
He finished with a flurry of sixes, including one on to the Westpac Stadium roof. It was carnage, and the West Indies faced a chase of 394 at 7.88 an over.
It got off to a shaky start, with Boult once again striking early, picking up Jonahtan Charles in the third over clean bowled with a wonderful ball. He them got Lendl Simmons for 12, caught by that man Guptill, in the 6th.
At the other end, Chris Gayle was shaking off any concerns about his back with a blistering knock, taking the BLACKCAPS quicks for multiple boundaries. Three consecutive sixes off Vettori helped him to reach 50 off just 26 balls and gave the West Indies the faintest of sniffs at 80-2 after nine overs.
Those hopes would soon be extinguished with a piece of Vettori magic swinging the momentum back in the BLACKCAPS favour. He dragged in a screamer at third man, getting up to take a one hander and getting superb hang time to remove Marlon Samuels.
Adam Milne came in to take the big wicket of Gayle, getting him to chop on for 61 from 33 balls in the 17th over.
Trent Boult was bowled out early, ending with figures of 4-44, taking him back to the top of the wicket taking log. The West Indies lower order provided some late resistance, with Jason Holder (42), Darren Sammy (27) and Andre Russell (20) all finding the boundary, but Corey Anderson, Tim Southee and Vettori were all able to stop the flow.
The win books the BLACKCAPS their semi final spot against South Africa on Tuesday at Eden Park.
