Guptill blasts NZ to ODI win over Proteas

An untameable Martin Guptill smashed, bashed and thrashed the Black Caps to a seven-wicket ODI win over South Africa in Hamilton last night.

Requiring a victory to keep the five-match series alive, Guptill hauled his side to their target of 280 with an unstoppable display of power, hitting 180 off 138 balls.

Including 15 boundaries and 11 sixes, the 30-year-old's ton is the third-highest in Kiwi ODI history - the top two scores also belong to Guptill.

The feat was made all the more impressive by Guptill's relative rustiness at the crease, having missed the first three ODIs with a hamstring problem.

The win with five overs to spare sets up the the series decider in Auckland on Saturday, before the sides play a three-Test series later this month.

"Guptill, he was unbelievable," Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson said.

"For Martin to come out and play a hand like that was special."

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Proteas took control of the clash after talisman AB de Villiers helped them belt 106 runs in their last 10 overs.

The world No.1 ODI side managed a total of 8-279 on a slow Hamilton pitch, with the skipper bashing death bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult from pillar to post.

De Villiers notched 72 not out from just 59 balls, making up for the side's relatively slow start and loss of Quinton de Kock for a duck.

Test captain Faf du Plessis also impressed with a slow-burning 67 off 97 deliveries, while Wayne Parnell helped de Villiers at the end with 29 off 12.

Despite opening the bowling with an unorthodox choice in Jeetan Patel, New Zealand snared de Kock quickly before Hashim Amla bashed his way to a quick-fire 40.

But the 33-year-old, attempting a nifty ramp shot, pushed an innocuous Patel delivery directly back onto his middle stump.

JP Duminy stepped in briefly before his exit for 25 and two quick lower-order dismissals foreshadowed De Villiers' late hit-out.

In response, New Zealand emulated South Africa's shoddy start when Dean Brownlie edged Kagiso Rabada to the keeper for just four.

Guptill and Williamson recovered with a 72-run stand, led by a brutal Guptill onslaught of sixes on the leg-side.

Williamson eventually fell in the 13th over for 21 but an imperious Guptill ploughed on, batting like a man possessed.

Hitting the ropes in every part of the ground, Guptill brought up his 82-ball century in the 26th over before proceeding on towards 150.

Ross Taylor, meanwhile, spent much of his early innings as Guptill's foil but grew in stature as the overs passed, reaching 50 off 83 balls.

With less than 50 runs to score in the last 10 overs, Guptill and Taylor could smell blood and were putting the Proteas attack away with frightening regularity.

Taylor eventually fell to Tahir for 66, bringing an extraordinary 180-run partnership to a close, before Guptill and Jimmy Neesham guided the Kiwis home.

"We struggled to string together partnerships with the ball," De Villiers said.

"Martin was unstoppable tonight, hit the ball very cleanly but we have a few things we need to work out."

via Radio Sport