KEY POINTS:
No sooner had Martin Guptill become just the 152nd man to play one-day international cricket for New Zealand than he set sail for more exclusive clubs.
The 22-year-old Aucklander delighted his hometown crowd with an unbeaten 122 in New Zealand's total of 275-4. In the process he became:
- The first New Zealander to score a century on ODI debut.
- The fifth player to score a century on ODI debut, joining West Indian great Desmond Haynes, England's Dennis Amiss, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and Pakistan's Saleem Elahi.
- The second-highest scorer on debut, behind only Haynes' 148 against Australia in 1978.
- And the first seven-toed player to score an ODI century (OK, that's just a guess but it's a calculated one).
Not the most effusive of self-promoters, Guptill admitted his achievement had yet to register fully.
"I'm really glad with the way I batted and I was really happy with the result," he said. No kidding.
"There were some nerves there, so getting that first run was a bit of a weight off my shoulders. I was very pleased to get off the mark."
Captain Daniel Vettori at least festooned the post-match press conference with a little more aww: "Martin's innings was one of the best I've seen in a long time," he said. "His composure was exceptional."
The whole innings had an air of serendipity about it. Originally pencilled in at No 3, Guptill was moved to the more familiar opener's role when Jesse Ryder was withdrawn because of, ahem, inadequate preparation.
It was not the most comfortable of starts, with his first 11 runs squeezed to third man whether by accident or design. At 15, he offered a fairly simple chance to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin - a chance that was shelled.
"Cricket does funny things and who knows, I could have gotten out at any stage there."
Right there, you have the paper-thin line between an ordinary debut and a sensational success story.
Mathew Sinclair will feel he's come down on the wrong side of those fine lines far too often. He got a good one from Lionel Baker but Ramdin held this catch and with just two next to his name, he must wonder if that is his international curtain call. If it is, then that will leave a bitter but not unfamiliar taste in Sinclair's mouth.
Enter Ross Taylor and the beginnings of a 144-run partnership. It was great stuff and, as Taylor's swipes to cow corner increased, you began to wonder if he might pass Guptill on the way to 100. One cross-bat slog too many saw that idea disappear on 75.
Almost lost in the hubbub around Guptill was a dynamic contribution at No 6 from fellow debutant Neil Broom. He won't see his name in too many headlines today but his 24 not out in a 50-run partnership with Guptill should not be overlooked.
It was a heady knock (17 balls, two sixes) from a player who has waited a long time for such an opportunity. If he was a foot longer and could bowl 10 tight overs, you might be tempted to say, "Jake who?"
No chance Guptill will be forgotten in a hurry, though. Not by any who witnessed him, on 97, dance down the track to wily old Chris Gayle and bop in into the top tier of the West Stand.
"It [the six] was a spur of the moment thing," he said. "At first I thought I might have got under it too much but then it kept going."
So did the 22-year-old, all the way to the last ball of the 50th over.
For a man with only two toes on his left foot after a forklift incident, he was remarkably nimble on his feet. Remember, too, that just last October, he dislocated his right knee while trying to sweep during a practice game at Whangarei.
He wasn't expected to return to any cricket until the New Year, so to call yesterday a rapid recovery would be an understatement.
