Record-breaker Guptill leads Kiwis to series win over England

Martin Guptill made the highest one-day international score by a New Zealand batsman as the Black Caps took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their series with England on Sunday. Guptill's 189 not out was the cornerstone of New Zealand's 359 for three at Southampton -- the largest total England had conceded in a home ODI. England, despite Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 109, could only manage 273 in reply as they lost by 86 runs, with 35 balls of their innings left, as New Zealand gained a measure of revenge for their 2-0 Test series whitewash by Alastair Cook's men. This defeat, which saw an attack again missing injured seamers Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin), struggle, raised questions about the hosts England's prospects in the one-day Champions Trophy tournament that starts on Thursday and ended a four-year unbeaten run in home ODI series. The 26-year-old Guptill's innings surpassed Lou Vincent's previous New Zealand record of 172 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2005, and was the equal fifth highest score in ODI history. This was also the opener's second hundred in as many matches after his 103 not out powered New Zealand to a five-wicket win at Lord's on Friday. Only Mark Greatbatch, in 1990, had previously made an ODI century for New Zealand in England, when he too scored back-to-back hundreds. But, as happened at Lord's, Guptill was again dropped on 13 with Chris Woakes once more the unlucky bowler when a pull went straight through Trott's hands at mid-wicket. That was the only chance Guptill gave in a 155-ball innings featuring two sixes and 19 fours that equalled West Indies' great Vivian Richards' 189 not out, in a 55-over match at Old Trafford in 1984, as the highest individual ODI score against England. "When Martin Guptill is going, few guys in world cricket strike the ball as well as he does," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said at the presentation ceremony. "The way we have responded since the Test series has been really good and we need to continue building our momentum for the Champions Trophy." England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side had been outclassed in the series thus far. "Clearly we have been outplayed in both matches and it's hurt us, but we have to learn why and get better," he said. "The Champions Trophy is very important and we have to do a lot better." Together with Kane Williamson (55) and Ross Taylor (60), Guptill shared partnerships of 120 and 109 respectively following the early loss of Luke Ronchi. McCullum, who won the toss on a typically good Southampton pitch, was 40 not out after adding an unbroken 118 in a mere 50 balls for the fourth wicket with Guptill. James Anderson took two for 65 as he equalled Darren Gough's England record haul of 234 one-day international wickets. But otherwise it was a largely forgettable day for England's attack, with seamer Jade Dernbach, the most expensive bowler to have sent down 1,000 ODI deliveries, seeing his 10 wicketless overs Sunday go for 87 runs. "I tried to start up partnerships with new batsmen and to keep the score ticking over," said Guptill as he collected his second successive man-of-the-match award. "You have to take it each ball as it comes but sometimes you have to try to take a bowler out." Ronchi, out for nought on his New Zealand debut on Friday, was bowled by Anderson for two. But New Zealand's second-wicket pair were largely untroubled until Williamson was bowled by off-spinner Graeme Swann. The most England have made batting second to win an ODI was 306 for five against Pakistan at Karachi in 2000. Trott, who should have been stumped by Ronchi on 14, led the chase, with his fourth hundred in 59 ODIs coming up in 98 balls and including five fours and a rare six. However, an England side missing still injured star batsman Kevin Pietersen could not offer sufficient support. The third and final match of this series takes place in Nottingham on Wednesday. Source: AFP