Opening batsman Martin Guptill returned from injury to score an unbeaten 180 and lead New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the fourth ODI on Wednesday, tying the five-match series at 2-2.
Guptill has been sidelined for the past month with hamstring injuries and was making his first ODI appearance since Jan. 30 when he scored 61 against Australia in Auckland. He shrugged off that enforced layoff, dashing to his 12th ODI century from 82 balls on a tricky pitch at Seddon Park.
Guptill's 180 from 138 balls contained 15 fours and 11 sixes and was the highest score by a New Zealand batsman against South Africa, and his unbroken partnership with Ross Taylor (66) was the highest for all wickets for New Zealand against the Proteas.
In partnership, the pair guided New Zealand to their winning total of 280-3, surpassing South Africa's 279-8 with five overs to spare.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers called Guptill "unstoppable" and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson described his innings as "unbelievable," saying it was "probably the best one-day innings I've ever seen on a wicket that wasn't that easy."
Guptill, more subdued, said he was simply glad to be in the middle again after a long battle with hamstring injuries.
Taylor was very much the junior partner in the stand, struggling for much of his innings to find his timing and willing for that reason to defer to Guptill, who was so clearly in
the zone.