News Digest

Cricket World Cup: Guptill breaks record as New Zealand crush West Indies

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill (pictured) sent the ball soaring and the records tumbling by striking a cricket World Cup record of 237 not out on Saturday to set up his team’s crushing 143-run victory over West Indies in the final quarter-final. New Zealand scored 206 off the closing 15 overs to reach 393 for six then dismissed West Indies for 250 from 30.3 overs. Their reward was a seventh World Cup semi-final appearance, this time against South Africa in Auckland on Tuesday, and another opportunity to reach a final for the first time.

I’m still not really sure what happened today to be honest. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill

Their reward was a seventh World Cup semi-final appearance, this time against South Africa in Auckland on Tuesday, and another opportunity to reach a final for the first time. Australia play India in the second semi-final in Sydney two days later. He became the first New Zealander to score consecutive World Cup centuries, bettered his own national record of 189 not out then overtook Chris Gayle’s World Cup record of 215 set against Zimbabwe at the current tournament. His innings took 163 balls and included 24 boundaries and 11 sixes.