Wednesday, 29 April 2015 02:37
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ESPNCricinfo: Martin Guptill blasted a sensational maiden first-class double century to bring back memories of his World Cup quarter-final spectacular and guide Derbyshire into a winning position on the second day of the LV=County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.
The 28-year-old New Zealander hit 227, off just 176 balls, with 29 fours and 11 sixes, reaching his double hundred with three successive maximums off Liam Norwell, as his side ran up 511 for 8 in reply to the home side’s 275. Matt Taylor claimed five for 89.
An increasingly grouchy day in Bristol, before a modest crowd, might not have had much in common with his memorable intervention in the World Cup last eight against West Indies in Wellington, when his double hundred came up in 152 balls, but there was a reminder in his bruising strokeplay.
On a day when Gloucestershire spilled six catches, Guptill received good support from Ben Slater (56), Billy Godleman (44) and Shiv Thakor, who contributed a sparkling 83 off 109 balls, with 13 fours and a six.
