Guptill powers New Zealand to 180 5 against Paki

MOHALI: Opener Martin Guptill’s explosive innings guided New Zealand to post a big total of 180 runs for five wickets against Pakistan in the World Twenty20 Super Ten Group Two match here at the the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium on Tuesday night.Batting first after winning the toss, Guptill with his captain Kane Williamson provided a sound start of 62 before the latter fell to fast bowler Mohammad Irfan for 17. Then soon another wicket feel when captain Shahid Afridi got Colin Munro caught by Khalid Latif for seven and New Zealand were 75 for two in 8.5 overs.Later Guptill and Corey Anderson added 52 from 34 balls before Guptill was bowled by fast bowler Mohammad Sami, after an aggressive innings of 80, laced with three towering sixes ten fours in 48 balls.Another wicket fell quickly as Anderson was caught by Shoaib Malik off Afridi for 21.Ross Taylor along with Luke Ronchi took the score to 164 when Sami got Ronchi out caught by Malik for 11.However, Taylor remained not out on 36 as New Zealand set an improbable target of 181for Pakistan.Sami bowled extremely well taking two for 23 and Afridi got two for 40 while Irfan took one wicket.New Zealand made no change in their team while Pakistan made two changes ‘ bringing in top-order batsman Khalid Latif and left-arm spinning all-rounder Imad Wasim in place of Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz who are injured.”