New Zealand’s meeting with West Indies in their quarter-final clash on Saturday, 21st March, was always going to be easy but Martin Guptill defined a new level of easy as he won the game for his team with a double ton. The game ended in the most predictable fashion as West Indies, chasing a huge target of 394 runs, bowed out of the WC 2015 with a 143-run loss.
After winning a rare toss, the Kiwis suffered a minor set-back in the form of the early loss of captain Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson, however Guptill more than made up for the loss with his brilliant innings. He feasted on the West Indian bowlers and lighted the small Wellington Regional Stadium with a total of 24 boundaries and 11 sixes.
Riding on sublime form, Guptill soon scored his second consecutive ton of the tournament and then went on to convert it into a big double hundred (237* off 163 balls). Accompanied by Ross Taylor on the other end, Guptill took New Zealand’s score to a daunting 393/6.
In their chase, West Indies caved in to pressure of an imposing total and lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Chris Gayle ensured a run-rate of over 8 per over, but once he fell for 61, it did not take too long for West Indies to get bundled up.
Kiwi bowlers were spot on once again with Trent Boult adding four more scalps to his dream tally of wickets (19) in this WC!