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After striking eight sixes against Australia, New Zealand veteran Martin Guptill is now the world's leading six-hitter in international T20s.
Man-of-the-match Martin Guptill scaled a new height in New Zealand's thrilling four-run win over Australia, becoming the leading T20 six-hitter in internationals.
The 34-year-old bludgeoned eight sixes in a superb knock of 97, missing his century when he tried to hit his ninth six, only to be caught at long off.
Guptill overtook Rohit Sharma, who hit 127 sixes in 100 international T20 innings, in the pecking order to sit on top of the world with 132 sixes from his 92 knocks.
Asked about the record, the likeable 34-year-old said he had no idea.
"I guess the good thing is we've got a couple more T20s coming up. I can try and go a bit further ahead," he laughed.
In all, Australia and New Zealand combined to hit 31 sixes at the tiny but beautiful University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.
"They all went over the boundary, it doesn't really matter how. We'll take it. We had about 18 today," Guptill said.
Guptill returned to form in Dunedin after a duck in Christchurch and an injury-plagued run through the NZ domestic T20 season.
He combined with Kane Williamson for a 131-run partnership, setting a NZ record for a second-wicket stand.
Together with Jimmy Neesham's late knock of 45 off just 16, New Zealand posted an intimidating total of 7-219.
Mitchell Santner's stunning three-wicket haul in the 13th over left Australia well short at 6-133, only for Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams to nearly haul the Kiwis in.
Australia needed 15 runs off the last over and Guptill said he didn't feel safe "until the last ball was bowled".
Having held firm, New Zealand can now dream about a win over their arch-enemy, leading 2-0 in the five-game series.
They'll have six days to think about that prospect before game three in Wellington on Wednesday, March 3.
Guptill said it was "always nice" to get one over the "old foe" but there was plenty of cricket left to be played.
"We've still got three hard games to go and we'll have to still play our best cricket to get a series win," he said.
"Onwards to Wellington and hopefully ... we can get that."
