Advice from Taylor helped: Guptill

Batsman’s ton took New Zealand to series-levelling win.

EAST LONDON: Advice from former captain Ross Taylor helped Martin Guptill to hit a thrilling century and clinch a last-ball, eight-wicket victory for New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa on Sunday.

“Ross Taylor was in touch from back home and he told me to just relax in the middle and play each ball as it came and I did exactly that,” said Guptill of a call from the former skipper who was unavailable for the tour after losing the captaincy in controversial circumstances.

Guptill finished with an unbeaten 101 off 69 balls, hitting the last ball of the match from Rory Kleinveldt over cover for four to enable New Zealand to reach a target of 169 in a match reduced to 19 overs a side because of a floodlight failure.

The result enabled New Zealand to level the three-match series with the decider to be played in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

Guptill innings was top drawer: McCullum

“It's a great turn around in 48 hours. Guptill's innings was out of the top drawer, especially for a guy who was not selected (for the first match) through sickness,” said captain Brendon McCullum.

Earlier, South Africa scored 165 for five after as Henry Davids hit 55 and captain Faf Du Plessis made 63 for South Africa. Doug Bracewell took three wickets in four balls in the final over, all from catches in the deep, to finish with three for 33.

Du Plessis, who made his runs off 43 balls, said he was happy with his side's batting.



“I thought we had enough runs on the board to defend,” said Du Plessis. "However, we were outplayed by a great knock."

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2012.