Guptill smashes 80 as New Zealand score 180/5

Martin Guptill smashed his way to a 48-ball 80 as New Zealand notched up a formidable 180 for five against Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20 here today.
Opting to bat, New Zealand rode on Guptill's blazing knock to continue the team's dream run in the mega-event.
The 29-year-old right-handed batsman struck 10 boundaries and three sixes.
Guptill added 62 runs for the first wicket with Kane Williamson (17) before the skipper was dismissed by Mohammad Irfan in the eighth over at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Colin Munro fell cheaply for seven but the opener, who has a century in this format, found an able ally in Corey Anderson, with whom he added 52 runs in five overs to consolidate New Zealand's position.

Anderson contributed 21

off 14 balls, hitting three boundaries.
But the star of the evening was undoubtedly Guptill, who mixed caution with aggression beautifully and found the boundaries with considerable ease. He looked dangerous right from the start and frustrated the Pakistani bowlers.
And while Pakistan finally got Guptill when he was bowled by Mohammad Sami, Ross Taylor stood in their way and scored a quickfire 36 off 23 balls with the help of two boundaries and a six.
Right-arm pacer Sami took the prized wicket of Guptill in the 15th over, but by then he had done the damage.

In the third over, Guptill hit three fours off Mohammad Aamir and hit spinner Imad Wasim for a six in another.
Even Sami was shown little respect by the Kiwi, who hit him for a six and a four in one over. Afridi, too, came in for some heavy stick from Guptill as New Zealanders raced to 100 in just 12 overs.
Left-arm pacer Mohd Irfan provided the first breakthrough in the eighth over when Williamson, who was looking to go down the wicket, handed over a catch to Shahid Afridi.
In the ninth over, Munro mistimed a switch-hit and balloned a catch to Sharjeel Khan, giving Afridi the scalp. The Pakistan skipper also got the wicket of Anderson.

Luke Ronchi (11) was removed by Sami when he ended up offering a catch to Shoaib Malik, in a bid to accelerate.
Sami was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers giving away just 23 runs and earning two wickets.
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim remained wicketless giving away 26 runs.