New Zealand came up with a merciless show in the second ODI at Christchurch against Sri Lanka, clinching a comprehensive 10 wickets win with more than 41 overs in hand. This was the sixth quickest run chase in ODI history, that too without their hard-hitting batsman and aggressive captain Brendon McCullum. The right-hand batsman is currently battling a back injury.
New Zealand won the match with 250 balls to spare. This is the seventh-biggest margin of victory in ODIs with regards to balls to spare. This loss was Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat with respect to balls to spare in an ODI. This was also their fourth 10-wicket loss in ODIs and their first against New Zealand.
The 34-year-old had combined with Guptill in a 108-run opening partnership in a seven-wicket victory on the same pitch two days ago. Commenting on Guptill's mad knock, he said he had been happy to put his feet up to watch Guptill destroy Sri Lanka on Monday.
The Kiwi skipper said, “It was a superb innings. You can’t describe it, It’s something you witness only once or twice in your life.”
You can’t describe the knock: McCullum
McCullum said, “There are very few guys in the world who can play like that. Martin is one of those guys.
“I knew he struck the ball cleanly the other day and jeez he struck it better today. He did it with such composure and genuine stroke making as well.”
Guptill had flirted with AB de Villiers’ world record of 16 balls for a half century in ODIs, which he managed to pass on his 17th delivery. It still broke McCullum’s New Zealand record of 18 balls, achieved earlier this year against England in the World Cup.
Guptill, who scored 93 not out from 30 balls on Monday, is the world’s leading run scorer in one day internationals in 2015. He has scored a total of 1,459 runs with one match to play in Nelson on December 31.
McCullum, who praised his opening partner’s career-best year, said he had asked his team to step up their performances throughout the series as they seek Australia in February. They would do so, once again, as they seek to seal the five-match series against the Lankans in the third game.
“I asked the guys to go up another gear and they certainly did that so ... we get to the third game with an opportunity to close out a series.
“We know we have to keep turning up and putting up our best performance.”
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