Cricket: NZ's top five Twenty20 centuries

New Zealand's Martin Guptill heads towards his Twenty20 century against South Africa. Photo / AP

New Zealand batsmen have made only three centuries in international Twenty20 cricket since the game was first played in 2005, while a few more have been able to reach three figures in various domestic or franchise competitions around the world. APNZ's Daniel Richardson and Kris Shannon take a look back at five of the best tons by Kiwis in the shortest form of the game.

1. Martin Guptill, 101*, New Zealand vs South Africa, December 24, 2012.

Every boy dreams of hitting the final ball of a game for a boundary to bring up a century and win the match for your country - and Guptill celebrated with the enthusiasm of a child when he made that dream of a reality this morning (Monday NZT). Guptill reacted to the winning runs with a mix of rage, relief and raw passion, leaving partner Colin Munro almost fearing for his safety when he joined the celebrations. And, as if to prove Ross Taylor was a perfectly fine captain in the coloured clothing, Guptill revealed he was inspired by pre-match advice from the sacked skipper.

2. Brendon McCullum, 158*, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2008.

McCullum has scored five centuries in the hit and giggle, but this innings shattered what anyone thought possible in 20 overs of cricket. In the inaugural match of the glitzy Indian Premier League, McCullum delighted a rabid crowd at M Chinnaswamy Stadium with a knock of pure power. Coming from just 73 deliveries and featuring 13 sixes, the innings remains the highest score in T20 history and justified McCullum's US$700,000 auction fee.

3. Ross Taylor, 111*, Central Districts vs Northern Districts, 2008.

Taylor took Northern Districts apart four years ago at Seddon Park in a time where centuries in T20 cricket seemed as frequent as a good PR week for Jetstar. The swashbuckling Taylor plundered 13 fours and a few sixes in a game CD actually lost by six wickets despite setting Northern Districts 186 to win. ND seamer Simon Andrews saw his four wicketless overs disappear for 53 in the only domestic Twenty20 game he ever played.

4. Scott Styris, 100*, Sussex vs Gloucestershire, 2012.

Styris now plies his trade a Twenty20 specialist around the world and the 37-year-old is still doing a good job of it. Earlier this year he pasted an unbeaten 100 from only 37 balls for Sussex in the English competition. The innings was the third-equal fastest century in the shortest form of the game and included nine sixes and five fours. If only Styris would still make himself available for the Black Caps, they could make use of him.

5. Jamie How, 102, Central Districts vs Wellington, 2012.

How and his opening partner Peter Ingram combined for a record-setting 201 for the first wicket as the pair put Wellington to the sword in January this year. Granted it was played at Pukekura Park, which is so disgracefully small it shouldn't host anything other than an under-15 tournament, but it was still a great knock from How who blasted eight fours and as many sixes. Ingram was unluckily knocked over on 97 as CD made a Richie Benaud special of 222-2 and easily accounted for Wellington by 53 runs