Oh! To be Martin Guptill

Prologue:

Normally, it’s a two. When MS Dhoni turns, it’s always a two. The pressure is never on him. The onus is on the man running in from the boundary, always — you gotta stop him from stealing the extra run. The heat is on the fielder covering the stumps – he can see Dhoni motor back from the corner of his eye. The stress is on the millions sitting on the edge of their seats, praying. They’re praying but they know Dhoni will make it. He always does. The deep square leg can’t run in, pick up, open his body and throw down the stumps in one action.

Surely not.

But then. Oh! How must it feel to be Martin Guptill!

That Morning:

Win the toss, bat first. Kane Williamson got it right. There was a bit of rain in the air but in a final, win the toss and always bat first. New Zealand had the worst opening partnerships in the competition till then but at Lord’s, it didn’t matter.

One innings. That’s what New Zealand needed from Martin Guptill. The Kiwi veteran started the World Cup in fine fashion. Along with Colin Munro, he smashed the Sri Lankans all around the park. It was that innings that ruffled the net run rate column as well. He wrapped up the game in just 17 overs.

But since then, he hadn’t been at the crease for 17 overs. He’s had issues with the ball coming in. He had struggled with the ball leaving him. Yet, the Black Caps trusted him to do the job: See off the new ball. Build a partnership. Give Kane a platform.

Do it Gup! Carpe Diem! – said Mike Hesson scribbling on his masterclass whiteboard. This was it, the pressure was on.

Oh! How must it feel to be Martin Guptill!

That innings:

Guptill looked assured while taking guard. He was out of form but he had experience. Chris Woakes delivered it full, outside off, swinging away: Guptill went for it — back knee on the ground, arms wide stretched, head all over the place and the bat swishing away nowhere near it.

Intent. He was up for it. He had come out swinging. Then, there was an edge that found the boundary. A top-class Marias Erasmus decision silenced Jofra Archer. An impeccable review call saved Henry Nicholls. It looked good for New Zealand.

It got better. An Archer short ball was deposited over third man. A shimmy down the track sent him screaming to sight screen. A Guptill masterclass was incoming. Until it wasn’t. A Woakes inswinger found him in front.

Don’t take it! – Ian Smith pleaded from the commentary box. But Guptill wanted to stay. Review wasted. In a World Cup final!

Oh! How must it feel to be Martin Guptill!

Rewind: That Trans-Tasman Tussle

Get Finch and Warner early! – The brief was simple. New Zealand needed a win. Pakistan were closing in. Trent Boult was on point. So was Colin De Grandhomme. He made Finch drive. Guptill went flying at short cover. Fingertips. Oh!

Usman Khawaja was next. Boult found his edge. Guptill at second slip. Surely. Nooo! Martin Guptill doesn’t drop catches but at Lord’s, he dropped two in 10 overs.

But Kane Williamson had a plan. He sent Guptill to leg gully. He tossed the ball to Lockie Ferguson. He asked him to aim for Steve Smith’s ribs. Ferguson banged it in the middle of the pitch. Smith was ready, he swivelled to guide the ball towards long leg. The ball flew off his bat but took refuge in Guptill’s outstretched left hand. It was sensational. It was a catch of the tournament nominee. It was a moment of brilliance. Martin Guptill had dropped two and then held on to an absolute corker!

Oh! How must it feel to be Martin Guptill!

That Overthrow

New Zealand needed to get rid of Ben Stokes. He wasn’t timing it well but was grinding away. Boult had to get it right but he didn’t. His slower one had vanished into the stands and now, he delivered a full toss. Stokes didn’t time that either.

Normally, it’s not a two but Stokes was going back for the second. Guptill ran in from deep midwicket, Latham was up at the stumps. Stokes was struggling. Dhoni couldn’t make it last game, Stokes definitely can’t. Guptill threw, Stokes dived. The ball ricocheted off the bat and rolled over the boundary.

Oh! How must it feel to be Martin Guptill!

That Last Ball

Jofra Archer angled the ball into Guptill’s pads. The Kiwi opener clipped it to deep midwicket and ran for his life. Jimmy Neesham was flying. So was Jason Roy, the man stationed at the boundary. Guptill had found the gap and his immediate call was ‘TWOOO’. Of course, it was two. It had to be two.

Guptill was running at the danger end but he’s the fastest Kiwi in the squad. Also, Roy had just fumbled one a couple of balls ago. He had to run in from the boundary, pick up the ball with one hand, look up, hear ‘KEEPER’S END’, open his body and throw with all his power and precision. Not only that, Jos Buttler had to get it right as well. He was already way in front of the stumps waiting for Roy’s throw. He had to gather it and then go horizontal with one hand to break the stumps.

Surely not.

But then. Oh!