Cricket: Guptill mirrors the Master Blaster with record-breaking onslaught

Martin Guptill said he was delighted to take the New Zealand ODI record from Lou Vincent. Photo / AP

Any day you're compared to Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is a good day.

Richards, the original Master Blaster, is arguably the most devastating batsman of all time on the basis of sheer aggression.

On May 31, 1984, he swaggered to the wicket and set the record for the highest innings in a one-day international against England (and then the world) with 189 not out for the West Indies at Old Trafford.

Martin Guptill matched him in the second ODI against England, only he did it with a better strike (121.93 v 111.17) and had only 50 overs to work with. Richards' match had 55 overs although he did come to the wicket after the dismissals of Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge.

Guptill led his side to 359 for three and an 86-run win in the second match of the three-match series, leading New Zealand to a series win with a game to play.

He eclipsed Lou Vincent's 172 - against lowly Zimbabwe in 2005 - as the highest ODI innings by a New Zealander.

Guptill received support from Kane Williamson (55) in a partnership of 120, then Ross Taylor (60) helped put on 109 and finally Brendon McCullum (40) joined him for an unbeaten stand of 118.

He became the third New Zealander to score consecutive one-day international centuries after making 103 not out at Lord's on Saturday (NZT).

Mark Greatbatch was the first to achieve the feat in May 1990 against England, also within 48 hours. Ross Taylor made one against Zimbabwe in October 2011 and backed it up last July against the West Indies.

"I've had a lean patch over the last few months even before I was injured [against England in February] so to score back-to-back hundreds is a special feeling," Guptill said. "I'm also pleased to take the record off Lou [Vincent], who is someone I've played a lot of cricket with. I will give him stick later tonight.

"The wicket was a touch on the slow side but it was still good for batting."

Guptill impressed both captains.

"It's a huge credit to him," England skipper Alastair Cook said, as he contemplated changes for the final match in Nottingham on Thursday. "He made us pay by always finding the right option."

"His batsmanship through the middle stages was most impressive," McCullum said. "We all know his striking ability. Couple those two factors together and that is as good an innings in ODIs as you will see for New Zealand."

McCullum also reflected on winning an ODI series which no other side has managed in England since Australia in September 2009.

"Considering where they are on the rankings [third versus eighth] and in their own conditions it was great to wrap up the series in two games. It shows how good the team can be when we get things in order."

Highest ODI scores:

* 219 - Virender Sehwag, IND v WI Indore 2011
* 200* - Sachin Tendulkar, IND v SA Gwalior 2010
* 194* - Charles Coventry, ZIM v BAN Bulawayo 2009
* 194 - Saeed Anwar, PAK v IND Chennai 1997
* 189* - Martin Guptill, NZL v ENG Southampton 2013
* 189* - Vivian Richards, WI v ENG Manchester 1984
* 189 - Sanath Jayasuriya, SRI v IND Sharjah 2000
* 188* - Gary Kirsten, SA v UAE Rawalpindi 1996
* 186* - Sachin Tendulkar, IND v NZL Hyderabad 1999
* 185* - Shane Watson, AUS v BAN Dhaka 2011.