New Zealand v West Indies
Wisden's review of the fourth Quarter-Final, New Zealand v West Indies
15-Apr-2016
At Wellington (Westpac Stadium), March 21, 2015 (day/night). New Zealand won by 143 runs. Toss: New Zealand.
Guptill tore the West Indies bowling apart with an unbeaten 237 that sped New Zealand to a seventh World Cup semi-final. He surpassed his own 189 not out as their highest one day international score, as well as Gayle's tournament-record 215, set a month earlier. West Indies were left to rue dropping him on four in the opening over, when Samuels spilled a low catch at square leg. McCullum had perished early, but Guptill steadied any jitters, adding 62 with Williamson and 143 with Taylor, and dominating every moment of the innings. His seventh ODI hundred came from 111 deliveries; his double needed just another 41, as 137 runs gushed from his last 52 balls. The tenth of his 11 sixes landed on the roof over deep midwicket, and measured 110 metres; the closing 15 overs brought 206 as West Indies lost all control. During the onslaught Gayle offered Guptill a handshake and a congratulatory "Welcome to the 200 club." West Indies' only hope was for Gayle to respond in kind. Though struggling for mobility because of a persistent back problem that had jeopardised his place, he clubbed eight sixes on his way to 61 off 33 balls, all but his first run accumulated to leg. But the rest of the top order were blown away by the sustained pace and swing of Boult, who bowled his overs off the reel. Samuels, his third victim, was athletically caught by Vettori, seemingly defying gravity to intercept an upper-cut at third man. The tempo of the match was summed up when Sammy lofted Boult's penultimate ball for six, then was sent to the canvas ducking the next; both men smiled at each other, and Sammy mimicked a throat-slitting gesture. ANDREW MCGLASHAN
Man of the Match: M. J. Guptill.
Guptill tore the West Indies bowling apart with an unbeaten 237 that sped New Zealand to a seventh World Cup semi-final. He surpassed his own 189 not out as their highest one day international score, as well as Gayle's tournament-record 215, set a month earlier. West Indies were left to rue dropping him on four in the opening over, when Samuels spilled a low catch at square leg. McCullum had perished early, but Guptill steadied any jitters, adding 62 with Williamson and 143 with Taylor, and dominating every moment of the innings. His seventh ODI hundred came from 111 deliveries; his double needed just another 41, as 137 runs gushed from his last 52 balls. The tenth of his 11 sixes landed on the roof over deep midwicket, and measured 110 metres; the closing 15 overs brought 206 as West Indies lost all control. During the onslaught Gayle offered Guptill a handshake and a congratulatory "Welcome to the 200 club." West Indies' only hope was for Gayle to respond in kind. Though struggling for mobility because of a persistent back problem that had jeopardised his place, he clubbed eight sixes on his way to 61 off 33 balls, all but his first run accumulated to leg. But the rest of the top order were blown away by the sustained pace and swing of Boult, who bowled his overs off the reel. Samuels, his third victim, was athletically caught by Vettori, seemingly defying gravity to intercept an upper-cut at third man. The tempo of the match was summed up when Sammy lofted Boult's penultimate ball for six, then was sent to the canvas ducking the next; both men smiled at each other, and Sammy mimicked a throat-slitting gesture. ANDREW MCGLASHAN
Man of the Match: M. J. Guptill.