Cricket: Guptill blazes the way for flying Aces

Martin Guptill smashed an unbeaten 97 off 60 balls in Auckland’s win over Canterbury yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland are ideally placed to host the domestic Twenty20 final after a spectacular hand by international Martin Guptill steered them to a six-wicket win over Canterbury in the penultimate round yesterday.

Guptill spanked an unbeaten 97 off just 60 balls, with seven fours and four sixes to push Auckland to 161 for four, chasing Canterbury's competitive 160 for eight at Christchurch's Queen Elizabeth II Park. It was looking a tight squeeze when 21 were needed off the final two overs, but Guptill's swashbuckling hitting off Carl Frauenstein meant the last over wasn't required.

Guptill got help from captain Gareth Hopkins, with a run-a-ball 25 as Auckland extended their record to six wins from their last seven games to maintain a strong winning surge into tomorrow's final round of games in the HRV Cup.

Four teams are still chances to make the final, but a win over Otago at Colin Maiden Park will guarantee Auckland a spot in it and, almost certainly, home advantage for next Sunday's showdown.

Auckland coach Paul Strang was last night preaching a one-step-at-a-time philosophy, but was clearly delighted with yesterday's performance and the overall form.

"We've almost had a sudden death scenario for the last three or four games ever since we lost in Otago [on January 15]," Strang said. "We realised we had to pretty much win everything, and nothing really changes.

"We're having a lot of fun, enjoying our cricket and I don't see any reason why we should change the formula."

The key to Guptill's innings, Strang believed, was his clean hitting, allied to a positive outlook.

"He didn't take any unnecessary risks and he paced it pretty well."

One of the pleasing aspects of Auckland's batting in the competition is that at least one batsman has stepped up with a large contribution in each match.

Openers Guptill and Lou Vincent, middle order men Scott Styris, Hopkins and Anaru Kitchen at various times have all put up sizeable scores to ensure winning totals have been achieved.

Guptill's innings yesterday lifted his Twenty20 average this season to 48.6; Styris is going at 33.75, Vincent at 32.7 and Hopkins at 29.71, all at robust strike rates.

New ball man Daryl Tuffey's 13 wickets, one behind joint top wicket takers, Tim Southee, Bradley Scott and Jacob Oram, has played its part, with good backup from Styris (11 wickets), Ravi Bopara, Michael Bates, Colin de Grandhomme and spinner Ronnie Hira, with nine each.

Central Districts beat Otago by four wickets in Dunedin yesterday, with nine balls to spare. Otago managed just 121 for nine. CD were wobbling at 62 for four before hurrying to the win, captain Jamie How clubbing 50 in 36 balls.

Northern Districts got good value from their big-name import Tillekaratne Dilshan as they walloped hopeless Wellington in the capital yesterday.

Dilshan, with 59 off 42 balls, added 125 in quick time with New Zealand captain Dan Vettori for the second wicket, Vettori hitting 57 in 41 balls.

That set up ND's 191 for eight and Wellington were never in it, only making it as far as 131 thanks to thirties from lower order pair DeWayne Bowden and Mark Houghton. Six of their first seven batsman didn't reach double figures.

In tomorrow's other final-round matches, Canterbury play Wellington in Rangiora and in a clutch game ND play CD at Hamilton's Seddon Park.

Points: Auckland 24, CD 24, Otago 20, ND 20, Wellington 12, Canterbury 8.