WC 2015 NZ vs WI: World Cup record 237 hasn’t sunk in for ‘Two Toes’ Martin Guptill
Wellington: Martin Guptill said his World Cup record 237 not out against the West Indies made in New Zealand's thumping quarterfinal victory on Saturday had not "really sunk in yet."
The 28-year-old opener's total surpassed the previous World Cup best of 215, made by the West Indies' Chris Gayle against Zimbabwe at Canberra last month, and was the cornerstone of tournament co-hosts New Zealand's dominant 143-run win.
Guptill, dropped on four by Marlon Samuels, faced 163 balls as he hit 24 fours and 11 sixes, one of them a 110-metre rocket that landed on the roof of Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Read: Martin Guptill can thank one man for World Cup double-ton
His innings was also the second-highest individual score in the 3,643 match history of one-day internationals, behind Rohit Sharma's 264 for India against Sri Lanka at Kolkata last year.
It was all the more remarkable because Guptill's left foot was maimed in a forklift accident when he was a teenager, resulting in the loss of three toes and almost ending his career before it had begun.
Well played, Martin Guptill! He now has as many ODI centuries as he has toes - 7. It's true! #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/nYLzXrrcH9
— STAR Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 21, 2015Guptill said his contribution to New Zealand's last-eight success felt "pretty cool" but he was concentrating on their next challenge, a semifinal against South Africa in Auckland on Tuesday.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet and we've still got a bit of work to do in this tournament so I can't dwell in it too much," he said.
The Aucklander, who scored a century in New Zealand's previous match against Bangladesh, said he had to ignore the pressure of playing a knockout match in front of a home crowd. "Obviously there is pressure when you walk in to bat but you've just got to try to put it out of your mind and watch the ball as well as you can," explained Guptill after his seventh three-figure score in 106 ODIs.
"That's what I tried to do today, I'm just lucky it paid off," he said.
It was just the sixth double century in an ODI as Guptill became the fifth batsman to reach the landmark -- Sharma has two 200s to his credit. Guptill's innings also saw him break his own record for the highest ODI score by a New Zealander, which had stood at 189 not out and was set against England at Southampton in 2013.
SEE IN PICS: Rohit Sharma's double ton against Sri Lanka
- Amputation setback -
Guptill said he was thrilled to bat through the entire innings, explaining he felt comfortable on the drop-in pitch once he got his eye in. "It was the quickest outfield I've ever played on here, so you got value for shots today," he said.
"Chris Gayle came up to me and said welcome to the 200 club" #respect #NZvWI #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/EqyfjnjFF7
— ICC (@ICC) March 21, 2015Guptill's nickname among his teammates is 'Two Toes' because of the accident that occurred when he was a 13-year-old working on his father Peter's property.Already a promising cricketer, he lost three toes when the forklift ran over his foot and feared he would never play again.
@tompoynton @redfern_dan @rosswhiteley44 @timmyg12 @chesneyh22 @tina2310 @wjdurston3 @apalladino28 @pborrington pic.twitter.com/1ssoT5OX
— Martin Guptill (@Martyguptill) July 3, 2012Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming visited him in hospital, and Peter Guptill said the accident had shaped his son's attitude towards cricket. "It probably made him more determined. He realised in a flash that everything could be lost and he's making the most of it," Peter told New Zealand's TV3 in 2013.
@Tina2310 do you realize this awaits you when I get there??!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/8MuAp26u
— Martin Guptill (@Martyguptill) February 6, 2012Guptill said he could never have envisaged his record-breaking innings when he was a teenager recuperating with a mangled foot. "Probably not, back then I didn't think I'd ever play for New Zealand, I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to represent my country and I'm loving it at the moment," he said.
If New Zealand, bidding for a maiden World Cup semifinal win in seven attempts, defeat South Africa they will face either Australia or defending champions India -- who meet in Sydney on Thursday -- in a Melbourne final on March 29.
Highest individual one-day international scores:
Rohit Sharma- 264, India vs Sri Lanka, Kolkata 2014
Martin Guptill- 237, New Zealand vs West Indies, Wellington 2015
Virender Sehwag- 219, India vs West Indies, Indore 2011
Chris Gayle- 215, West Indies vs Zimbabwe, Canberra 2015
Rohit Sharma- 209, India vs Australia, Bangalore 2013
Sachin Tendulkar- 200*, India vs South Africa, Gwalior 2010
