JOIN USMartin Guptill continued his rich run of form as he scored 78 not out to help New Zealand to a six-wicket victory over South Africa in their Twenty20 international at Wellington Regional Stadium on Friday.
Guptill anchored the New Zealand run chase as the hosts scored 148 for four in 19.2 overs after South Africa had posted 147 for six in their 20 overs with JP Duminy scoring 41.
The 25-year-old Guptill had plundered the much weaker Zimbabwean attack in the previous series of New Zealand's summer. On Friday the opening batsman took on a much stronger attack and hammered four sixes in his 55-ball innings.
Score Board
SOUTH AFRICA
Levi c Bracewell b Southee 13
Amla (run out) 19
Ingram st B M’ullum b N M’ullum 0
De Villiers c Guptill b Hira 8
Duminy c Mills b Southee 41
Ontong c&b Southee...........................32
Morkel (not out) 13
Botha (not out) 14
Extras (LB-7) 7
Total (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 147
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-34, 3-38, 4-52, 5-102, 6-127.
Bowling: N McCullum 4-0-16-1, Mills 4-0-44-0, Southee 4-0-28-3, Hira 2-0-12-1, Bracewell 3-0-10-0, Williamson 2-0-27-0, Nicol 1-0-3-0.
NEW ZEALAND
Nicol c Amla b Theron 13
Guptill (not out)......................................78
B McCullum b Duminy 16
Williamson (run out) 24
De G’holmme c Levi b M Morkel 2
Franklin (not out) 8
Extras (NB-2, W-2, LB-3) 7
Total (for 4 wkts, 19.2 overs) 148
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-90, 3-127, 4-136.
Bowling: A Morkel 3-0-20-0, Tsotsobe 3-0-28-0, M Morkel 4-1-26-1, Botha 3.2-0-24-0, Theron 4-0-27-1, Duminy 2-0-20-1.