Guptill ton levels series
Martin Guptill struck a four off the final ball to reach his century and secure a dramatic series-levelling eight-wicket victory for New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa.
Guptill, who missed the first match through illness, finished unbeaten on 101 from 69 balls with nine fours and six sixes as the Blacks Caps reached their target of 169 in a match at Buffalo Park, East London, reduced to 19 overs a side due to a floodlight failure.
Opener Martin Guptill celebrates in some style after reaching a century from the final ball and sealing a victory that levels the Twenty20 international series
Guptill rode his luck somewhat; he was caught off a no-ball late on having earlier been dropped by Robin Peterson on 69 and again at point off a skier when 11 shy of three figures.
Yet the opener made the most of those escapes to become the second New Zealand batsman to score a Twenty20 international century after Brendon McCullum as he scooped the final delivery of the match from Rory Kleinveldt over the infield and away for the match-winning boundary.
South Africa had made 165 for five, captain Francois du Plessis top-scoring with 63, opener Henry Davids contributing 55 and David Miller clubbing a quickfire 33.
A floodlight failure during the 17th over of South Africa's innings saw a significant delay that led to the match being reduced to 19 overs.
Doug Bracewell starred with the ball, claiming 3-33, before Guptill showed the kind of dominance that New Zealand were sorely lacking in a heavy defeat two days earlier.
He put on 76 with Rob Nicol, 73 with McCullum and 20 with Colin Munro, his dominance being best put into context by those three scoring 25, 17 and eight respectively.
Having initially prospered through the off side, Guptill thrived from a method that was every bit as simple as it was effective.
Debutant left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso came in for particular punishment, being hit for three sixes and two fours as Guptill swept and clubbed between square-leg and down the ground.
The upshot was a quite remarkable victory for the tourists that few could have expected when they were skittled for a mere 86 at Kingsmead.
The win sees New Zealand level up the three-match series at 1-1 with the deciding match taking place in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
