New Delhi:
It was called a game-changing moment of brilliance but New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill says his direct that ran out M S Dhoni in the World Cup semifinal against India was more a case of luck doing its bit for him. With that run out in the 49th over, India's hopes ended in the tense semifinal at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The former champions went down by 18 runs against the last edition's finalists."I did not think the ball was actually coming to me, I tried to get there as soon as I could. Once I got hold of the ball, I thought it was actually quite straight. Lucky enough to get a direct hit from out there, lucky for us he was out of his ground," Guptill said in a short video uploaded by the ICC on social media.
Guptil had endured a below-par World Cup with the bat before this run-out redeemed him to an extent.It was that moment of brilliance which tilted the game completely in New Zealand's favour with Dhoni getting out on 50 off 72 balls. Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja shared an 116-run stand for the seventh wicket to give India a fighting chance after a top-order collapse left them reeling at 24 for four.
Meanwhile, New Zealand team is set to play against England in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final at Lord's in London. After losing three consecutive games in the league stages, the blackcaps have come strong to beat men-in-blue in the semi-final. Kane Williamson's New Zealand will look to continue their dazzling stint against the host to lift the World Cup title for the first time. Martin Guptill, who hasn't been able to impress with bat in the tournament so far will look to get back into form in the biggest and most important game of his cricketing career.
(With Inputs: PTI)
