New Zealand opener Martin Guptill has once again entered into the record books of cricket. On Friday, the Kiwi batsman smashed a 35-ball century in the Vitality Blast T20 tournament and became the joint-fourth fastest batsman in T20 cricket to reach this feat.
Representing Worcestershire against Northamptonshire, Guptill opened the inning along with Joe Clarke. While chasing a competitive target of 188 runs, the duo provided a magnificent start to their side and left no stone unturned in punishing the opposition.
Especially Martin Guptill, who probably had thought to end the game as soon as possible. Smacking 7 sixes and 12 boundaries, the Kiwi right-hand batsman smashed a magnificent hundred in just 35 balls and equalled the record of batsmen with the likes of Louis van der Westhuizen, David Miller and Rohit Sharma in T20 format.
Here’s the video:
He got going in a Richard Gleeson over that cost 22 runs, a flick over midwicket for six, two hits down the ground for four and a flick wide of the short fine leg.
South Africa's Rory Kleinveldt replaced Gleeson and he too gave up an over costing 22 as Guptill went to fifty in 20 balls.
Guptill swept left-arm spinner Graeme White to deep backward square leg, only for Seekkuge Prasanna to step over the boundary before a second slog-sweep cleared deep midwicket.
Later, he drove Prasanna over long-on for six and wide of long-off for four as Guptill went to 90 before Kyle Coetzer was straight driven for four and flicked over midwicket for six to bring up the batsman's century.
The opening duo added 162 runs for the first wicket before Guptill lost his wicket at a score of 102, just 3 balls after he created the record.
Later, Travis Head joined the party with Clarke and this pair finished the game in the 14th over itself. The Worcestershire registered a 9-wicket victory against Northamptonshire and Guptill bagged the Man of the Match award for his clinical performance.