Cricket: Black Caps rack up 369 runs

Ross Taylor celebrates his century with teammate Nathan McCullum during the One Day International between New Zealand and Pakistan. Photo / Getty Images

A 128-run second-wicket partnership between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson set the platform and Ross Taylor's closing 102 not out from 70 balls carried New Zealand to a total of 369 for five in the second one-day international against Pakistan at Napier.

The total is the second highest at the venue, justifying the hosts' decision to bat.

If New Zealand win it will be their fourth series win in the last five, the only blemish being South Africa earlier in the summer without Williamson or Taylor.

Williamson was Michelangelo with a bat rather than a brush. His 112 off 88 was a minor part of a Sistine Chapel summer. His sixth ODI century had children in the stands emulating the strokes to their parents.

Even when Williamson advanced down the wicket he held the shape of his shots rather than taking the easier route of clearing the front leg and blasting towards the Hawke Bay horizon. Like the best sub-continental batsmen he seldom overhits; it's all about timing.

The beautiful thing from a New Zealand perspective is children becoming familiar with the game think this is situation normal.

Their Mums and Dads know better.

Williamson is now ranked as the sixth best ODI batsman behind AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan but it's understandable why captain Brendon McCullum stated he wouldn't swap him for anyone.

A vociferous crowd rose in unison as he departed just as they did for Taylor at innings' end when he brought up his century with the final ball in his 150th ODI. They knew they'd witnessed quality.

Williamson received valuable support from Guptill with 76 from 88 balls.

Patience has again proven the valid policy from the New Zealand selectors. The innings was Guptill's best ODI effort this summer.

Coach Mike Hesson has played that situation brilliantly, saying he didn't want to create a "headmaster's office" culture. He never flinched when questions about Guptill's form became repetitive and a source of national angst. He said it was sometimes difficult, as any cricketer knows, to translate practice in the nets into the pressure of a game.

Guptill responded perfectly to the show of faith, even if he had to walk to the wicket with Pearl Jam's lyric "can't find a better man" blaring in his ears.

He was defensive to start, getting to 19 off 43 balls before accelerating as he judged the length earlier. A sweep to the boundary off Haris Sohail in the 16th over was one of his best-timed shots. He repeatedly took guard throughout in what looked like a conscious effort to focus his mind.

Grant Elliott (28 from 21) helped Taylor add 72 for the fourth wicket in 46 balls.

Pakistan were faced with formidable bowling conditions but tended to drop too short. They were punished through the short square boundaries.

Only Shahid Afridi with one for 57 and Mohammad Irfan two for 52 conceded less than a run a ball. Bilawal Bhatti went for 93. Afridi's effort was diluted by a couple of missed stumpings on Brendon McCullum and Taylor by Sarfraz Ahmed. McCullum was 23 on his way to 31; Taylor was 25.

Tom Latham, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan and Corey Anderson were omitted from the New Zealand XI.

Pakistan kept the same starting XI from Wellington.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (C), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (C), Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Irfan.