Martin Guptill scored an aggressive 79 from 56 balls during his side’s seven-wicket win in the opening ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka © Getty Images (File Photo)
Wellington: New Zealand opener Martin Guptill has admitted that he has gained a lot more confidence after producing a rich vein of form in the ODI format this year. The 29-year-old prolific batsman scored an aggressive 79 from 56 balls during his side’s seven-wicket win in the opening ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval. Guptill is currently leading the list of maximum ODI run-scorer of the year with 1366 runs. Star batsman Kane Williamson, who is unlikely to play the second ODI on Monday, is only 49 runs behind his compatriot. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 1st ODI at Christchurch
Reflecting on his achievement, Guptill said that he hopes to be at the top of the list in view of playing maximum number of games than anyone else in the world this year, Stuff.co.nz reported. The opening batsman has played five more innings than his team-mate Williamson and 12 more innings than South Africa’s swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers. Guptill, who averaged just 28.18 before the World Cup, became the highest scorer in the game’s pinnacle event history by smashing an unbeaten 237 against the West Indies in March. He has only been dismissed in single figures once since the start of the tournament. New Zealand are currently leading 1-0 in the series. Martin Guptill thanks Martin Crowe for ‘significant influence’ following his knock of 156 vs Sri Lanka
Earlier, Gutptill had appreciated former batting great Martin Crowe for his significant influence that helped the former to smash a brilliant knock of 156 runs against Australia on the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the University Oval. After batting for more than six hours, the 29-year-old said that his performance reflected a lot of hard work over the last 18 months to get back in the Test side, adding that Crowe had done a lot of hard work on him and it all came together in the ongoing series, Stuff.co.nz reported. Ross Taylor backs Martin Guptill to shine in series against Sri Lanka