Superb Guptill century forces series into decider

Martin Guptill underlined his importance to the New Zealand one-day side with a blistering match-winning century as he guided his side to a seven-wicket victory over South Africa in their fourth one-day worldwide in Hamilton on Wednesday.

The final one-day worldwide is on Saturday at Eden Park with the first test starting in Dunedin on March 8. Latham kept wicket in the first three matches of the series and his absence forces the recall of wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi who displaces Neil Broom. The last ODI between them will be staged in 4th March, 2017 at Auckland. On the other side of the coin, a Proteas win would help them regain the No 1 ODI team ranking they handed back to Australia in the seven-wicket hammering largely inflicted by Guptill in Hamilton.

His replacement up front, Jeet Raval, has thrived in the role nearly certainly ruling out a return to opening in Tests for Guptill but he could return further down the order.

It meant South Africa’s total of 279 for eight – made after winning the toss and opting to bat – was not as challenging as it initially appeared. As for Du Plessis, he has made 128 runs, which includes one half-century, at an average of 32.

The Black Caps have only managed to dismiss de Villiers in two of the four matches so far and Hesson says coming up with a plans is one thing, actually getting de Villiers out is another.

It was a shame the innings did not have a bigger crowd to witness it than 2264 – a result, largely, of the reasonably late change of venue when the game was moved from Napier – but Guptill was a main topic of breakfast TV and radio while there was a bigger-than-average media huddle to speak to coach Mike Hesson in Auckland.

But the tourists showed they are well and truly over that fateful day by destroying the Black Caps by 78 runs in the shortest format.

The total had looked to be a hard one to achieve on the slow-paced pitch, especially when opener Dean Brownlie (4) fell cheaply. With these two players providing the visitors a strong start, they are bound to build big on it for an equally heavy middle-order that follows.

Taylor was very much the junior partner in the stand, struggling for much of his innings to find his timing and willing for that reason to defer to Guptill, who was so clearly in the zone.

Martin Guptill’s powerful knock of 180 runs off 138 balls ensured a victory for New Zealand on Wednesday.

Matt Henry and Dean Brownlie drop out of the squad and will play in the Plunket Shield day-night match beginning next week.