Martin Guptill last scored a century in November 2011 for New Zealand in Tests.
©REUTERS / Action Images
<
>
Martin Guptill ton powers New Zealand to 409 on day one
New Zealand 409-8 (Guptill 156) v Sri Lanka
First Test, Dunedin, day one
Scorecard
Martin Guptill slammed a fluent 156 while Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum notched up useful half centuries as New Zealand scored 409 for eight on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Dunedin.
New Zealand scored the runs at the run-rate of 4.40 even though Sri Lankans were chipping away with wickets on a track which had a tinge of grass on it.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first. Guptill (156) scored five boundaries in the first five overs signaling New Zealand's intention to play with a positive approach.
Guptill along with Tom Latham (22) brought the 50-run opening stand in 69 deliveries as Sri Lankan bowling looked very ordinary.
Suranga Lakmal (2-69) provided Sri Lanka with the much needed breakthrough after completing a return catch from Latham in the 16th over.
Williamson (88) announced his arrival with three boundaries in the first four overs while Guptill smashed Dushmantha Chameera (2-101) for successive boundaries in the 23rd over.
Guptill brought up his fifty off 74 deliveries while scoring 11 boundaries in it. The duo brought the 50-run stand in just 53 deliveries as New Zealand headed into lunch at 114 for one in 27 overs.
Two overs into the second session, Guptill completed 2000 runs in Test cricket with a boundary off Nuwan Pradeep (2-101).
On the other end, Williamson raced to his half-century off just 53 deliveries while the 100-run stand between him and Guptill came in 113 deliveries.
New Zealand were placed at 158 for one and things looked ominous for the visitors who were in desperate search of wickets.
The game was drifting away from the Sri Lankans quickly as the duo looked in comfort in the middle. Guptill got to his century in 147 deliveries - his first in this format after four years.
Pradeep brought Sri Lanka back in the game with two quick wickets. He first dismissed Williamson caught at first slip to end the 173-run second wicket partnership with Guptill.
Ross Taylor (8) was Pradeep's second victim after he was trapped lbw. New Zealand were 245 for three at that stage.
McCullum's (75) arrival swung the game in New Zealand's favour completely as he smashed Pradeep for hatrick of boundaries in the 63rd over.
He also brought the 50-run partnership with Guptill in just 57 deliveries with Guptill contributing just nine in it. New Zealand raced past the 300-run mark in the 69th over.
Just when McCullum looked to take the game away from Sri Lanka, he holed out to deep mid-wicket while attempting a slog sweep against Milinda Siriwardana (1-24). His 57-ball knock included 13 boundaries and a six.
Chameera made his pace count with quick wickets of Mitchell Santner (12) and BJ Watling (5).
Guptill was eventually dismissed, caught behind off Angelo Mathews (1-28) soon after he reached the 150-run landmark.
New Zealand ended the day 409 for eight with Doug Bracewell (32 not out) at the crease along with Neil Wagner (0 not out).
Lakmal, Pradeep and Chameera picked a couple of wickets each for Sri Lanka while Mathews and Siriwardana managed a wicket apiece.
© Cricket World 2015
Cricket World Player of the Week - Kane Williamson
14 March 2023
