Cricket: Martin Guptill hits double ton

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill struck his maiden first-class double century to put Derbyshire in a strong position in their English county match against Gloucestershire at Bristol today.

Guptill revived memories of his World Cup quarter-final double century against the West Indies as he hit 227 off just 176 balls to push Derbyshire to 511 for eight at stumps on the second day of the match. They lead Gloucestershire by 236 runs.

Guptill, batting at No 3, went to his double century with three successive sixes off Liam Norwell on a day Gloucestershire spilled six catching chances. He struck 29 fours and 11 sixes in compiling his 10th first-class century.

The innings surpassed Guptill's previous best first-class score, 195 not out against Canterbury at Rangiora in 2011.

"It was the sort of pitch where I thought if I tried to bat time I would get a nick so I decided to go for it. When you take that approach you need a bit of luck and I had some today, Guptill told the Derbyshire Cricket website.

"When the second new ball was taken I started trying to hit everything out of the park. It was harder, so it came off the bat better.

"It's taken me quite a few games to hit a first class double hundred. I got stranded on 195 a few years ago for Auckland and it's nice to have reached the landmark."

- NZ Herald