Guptill blasts Black Caps to victory against Proteas in first T20

Wellington, Feb.17 (ANI): Batsman Martin Guptill helped New Zealand to beat South Africa by six wickets in the first Twenty20 cricket international in Wellington on Friday.

Guptill scored an unbeaten 78 off 55 balls as the Black Caps chased down the 148 set by South Africa.

The Kiwis got home with four balls to spare and are in with a chance to clinch the three-match series in Hamilton tomorrow night.

Man of the match Guptill clouted five fours and four sixes in his knock.

A crowd of 17,972 roared inside the Westpac Stadium as Guptill kept them on their feet with his sixth consecutive half-century of the home season to anchor the pursuit of the tourists' 147-6.

It carried on from his 51 in the Zimbabwe test, then 70, 77 and 85 in the ODIs before a blistering 91 not out off 54 balls in the Auckland T20 match last Saturday.

He also fielded brilliantly to run out two of South Africa's key batsmen-Hashim Amla and skipper AB de Villiers.

Earlier, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum used his four spinners effectively to prevent the South Africans from getting off to a good start to their six-week tour.

Only J.P. Duminy with 41 and Justin Ontong with 32 scored for South Africa. Fast bowler Tim Southee claimed three wickets for 28 runs for New Zealand. (ANI)