Black Caps’ destructive batter Martin Guptill bid adieu to International cricket. Martin Guptill was a thorn in flesh for bowlers in various conditions.
“It is what it is, and the decisions that have been made around it. Obviously, I would have loved to have played a lot more, I feel like I had a lot more to give New Zealand Cricket and the Black Caps,” Guptill told the New Zealand Herald after he retired from the international arena.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with how it all ended, but I’ve got to move forward and move on,” Guptill added, clearly showing his love for the game hasn’t ended yet.
The man who is the first Blackcap batsman to register a 100 on his debut and one of the very few to have scored a double century in the ODI format didn’t get to play the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. He even made the match-winning run out of the Indian superstar Ms Dhoni in the 2019 World Cup. Yet, the New Zealand cricket board kept him away from the international space for 2 years, leading the path to Guptill’s retirement. In this article, let’s see about his 2 international 100s in t20 cricket and one more beautiful knock and pay homage to the legend.
The Anchor: 78 of 55 vs South Africa in 2012
Martin Guptill played a stunning 78 off 55 balls to secure the first win of their 2012 home T20 series against the Proteas. His composed style of batting mixed with his ability to strike the ball hard earned him the player of the match that day. He hammered 4 sixers and nudged 5 fours for his 78* and pace spearheads like Tsotsobe and Morne Morkel.
Kane Williamson’s valuable 24 of 21 balls supported the anchoring match-winning performance of Martin Guptill. As an opener, Guptill knew what he was heading to and used the powerplay pretty well to put his side in the driver’s seat. Brendon McCullum praised his bowlers and Martin Guptill for using his form to clinch the victory. New Zealand were in complete control of the game throughout and AB Devillers accepted his team’s defeat in the post-match presentation.
The Second T20 Hundred: 105 vs Australia, Auckland in 2018
Though this match was lost by the Kiwis, Martin Guptill’s 100 in this match came as a consolation prize for the New Zealanders. Australians did chase their huge target of 244 in one of the tiniest international cricket grounds, Eden Park, Auckland. Munro and Guptill put on a delightful show for the spectators clearing the boundaries effortlessly. Munro made 72 of just 30+ balls and got out when their side was 132.
Martin Guptill continued with his hunting instinct and made a century off just 49 balls. That no-look six of Marcus Stoinis’s full-length delivery got him to 94. He cleared the long-on boundary keeping his head down and got ready to score another six of the free-hit ball from Stoinis. His ton went in vain as the Aussies chased down the target with 7 balls to spare.
The Finisher: 101* vs South Africa in 2012
This inning of Martin Guptill will be remembered for a long time by all T20 fans. The target was set by the proteas. New Zealand had to chase 169 in 19 overs in East London Buffalo Park. South Africa was leading the series 1-0 and here came the opener with this classic batting ability. He stood there like a rock, punching boundary after boundary in the cover region, flicking, sweeping, and pulling bowlers to all the destinations of the cricket ground.
Martin Guptill’s sixers looked classic that day, showcasing his quality of batting. He wasn’t playing the Shahid Afridi kind of batting that day but more of a tactical opener who had a plan to take the match down the wire. But two important things were waiting on the last ball. Guptill was on 97 of 68 balls while the team needed a four from the last ball. A full toss was bowled and through the covers went the ball hitting the ropes. Guptill secured a win with a breathtaking century. What a player…!
Also Read: NZ vs SL: 3 Best Knocks Of Martin Guptill In ODI Cricket