With Faf du Plessis still unavailable due to a knee injury, South Africa are likely to go in with an unchanged eleven for the second ODI.
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The hosts were reeling at 134-6 in the 32.2 over before Farhaan Behardien and Vernon Philander (30 not out) shared a crucial 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket to give their side a fighting total. The damage had been done behind that when Milne removed the openers cheaply.
Proteas could reach a big score, provided their next man, AB de Villiers batted till end.
But in a statement released this evening, Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said media reports “failed to accurately report the state of affairs”. New ball partner Ben Wheeler also bowled tightly in an all-Central Districts seam attack. Fellow quick Adam Milne took 2-39 and the other bowlers chipped in with tight lines to keep the Proteas on the back foot. After three or four overs we turned to plan B. The way the guys executed it was fantastic.
A flurry of 10 fours in the first 10 overs took New Zealand to 56 for no loss after the power-play.
The 28-year-old then combined with Tom Latham (64) to put on an opening stand of 126, a record for New Zealand against South Africa.
Guptill had more luck when Imran Tahir (1-42) dropped him off his own bowling in the 16th over.
Latham brought his fifty up in just 57 balls in the 21st over after which New Zealand reached the 100 mark as well.
Set a modest 205 for victory, New Zealand cruised to their target with 33 balls to spare on the back of Guptill’s 103 not out as they finished on 207 for two.
Martin Guptill hits an unbeaten century to help New Zealand level series with South Africa.
By doing so, they have also levelled the series 1-1.
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Guptill recalled his slow start to the year, going into the World Cup with just two 50s under the belt.
