18 Jan 2016

Black Caps set world record with victory

11:58 am on 18 January 2016

While the records keep tumbling around him; the Black Caps captain Kane Williamson isn't resting on his laurels following Sunday night's 10-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 in Hamilton.

Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson after setting the world record for the highest partnership in T20i cricket.

Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson after setting the world record for the highest partnership in T20i cricket. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Williamson and opening partner Martin Guptill broke the record for the highest partnership in international T20s when the pair chased down the visitor's 168 run total in just 17 overs at Seddon Park.

The duo finished the match on 171, beating the old record by one run, set by South Africa's Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman against England back in 2009.

Guptill made 87 off 58 balls, while Williamson hit 72 from 48.

"It's not something that we set out to do," Williamson joked.

"We set out to lay a platform and to play to the game plan if (the record) happens then that nice but more importantly we got across the line today to set up a nice finish to the T20 series in Wellington."

The 10-wicket win at Seddon Park was a start contrast to the first T20 at Eden Park last Friday, when the Black Caps lost by 16 runs.

In that game, Guptill was run out by his skipper but the pair appeared to have put the moment of miscommunication behind them.

"It was important that Gup and I communicated and played some smart cricket and I think we were a bit better at doing that today than we were in the last match," Willamson said.

The three match series is tied at 1-1, with the deciding game to be played in Wellington on Friday.

See how the game unfolded here.

After winning the toss and batting first, Pakistan lost seven wickets on their way to posting a respectable Seddon Park total of 168.

The first batsman to fall was opener Ahmed Shehzad, caught for nine at mid-off by Kane Williamson from the part-time medium-paced trundle of Corey Anderson.

The hero of Pakistan's victory in the first match on Friday, Mohammad Hafeez, soon followed his opening partner back to the pavillion for 19, after failing to clear the mid-wicket boundary.

Todd Astle took the catch in the deep off a Mitchell Santner long-hop that should have been smoked into the stands.

Sohaib Maqsood was the next to go for 18, top edging Grant Elliott to Santner in the 12th over.

Trying to accelerate the run rate, Shoaib Malik was bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan for 39 in the 17th over.

The mercurial Shahid Afridi didn't last long.

After smashing the pacey Adam Milne for six in the 18th over, Afridi holed out to Williamson in the deep for just seven runs after Milne cramped him for space.

Milne was in the action again in the next over taking an impressive sprawling catch to remove Imad Wasim for eight off a McClenaghan short ball.

Adam Milne fields off his own bowling during the second T20 against Pakistan at Hamilton, January 2016.

Adam Milne fields off his own bowling during the second T20 against Pakistan at Hamilton, January 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Sarfraz Ahmed came and went for one after Milne threw down his stumps in the 20th over following a mix up with Umar Akmal.

Akmal finished the innings with Pakistan's top score, 56 not out from 27 balls.

McClenaghan was the best of the bowlers taking two wickets for 23 runs from four overs.

What followed was a batting master class from Guptill and Williamson who never looked troubled by any of Pakistan's six bowlers.

Both batsman posted a strike rate of 150.

Martin Guptill on his way to 87 not out, 2nd T20 against Pakistan, Hamilton, January, 2016.

Martin Guptill on his way to 87 not out, 2nd T20 against Pakistan, Hamilton, January, 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Guptill blasted four sixes and nine fours while Williamson guided the ball to the boundary 11 times.

The punishment was shared equally amoung the bowlers although Mohammad Amir was the most expensive going for 34 runs from three overs.