21 Mar 2015

NZ storm into Cup semi-finals

9:08 pm on 21 March 2015

A record breaking 237 not out by Martin Guptill has guided New Zealand into the cricket world cup semi finals, after the Black Caps beat the West Indies by 143 runs in their quarter-final in Wellington.

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Photo: AFP

Guptill's innings broke a host of records as the Black Caps made 393 for six and then dismissed the West Indies.

Martin Guptill batted the entire NZ innings and, on his way to making the highest score at a World Cup, surpassed the previous best of 215 set by the West Indies' Chris Gayle.

Fittingly, Gayle was among the first to congratulate Guptill.

Guptill is the first New Zealander to score a double century in a one dayer, surpassing the previous best of 189 not out which Guptill in fact scored two years ago.

He struck 24 fours and 11 sixes, including one that went out of the stadium, as Guptill reduced the West Indies players to bystanders.

The West Indies set about their run chase with intent, but lost wickets at regular intervals to be all out for 250, with Trent Boult the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers taking four wickets and is now the leading wicket taker at the tournament.

The Black Caps now play South Africa in the semi-finals in Auckland on Tuesday as they try to become the first NZ team to qualify for a World Cup final.