New Zealand's Martin Guptill modest about double century

Martin Guptill's record-shattering double century and Trent Boult's four-wicket haul sent New Zealand sailing into the World Cup semi-finals as they trounced the West Indies by 143 runs on Saturday.

Guptill, dropped on four by Marlon Samuels, finished on 237 not out, the highest individual score in World Cup history and the second largest one-day international innings ever, as he led New Zealand to 393 for six in their 50 overs at Wellington Stadium.

Faced with a barrage of questions after the match, the laconic Guptill had no explanation for how he had done it. "I'm still not really sure what happened today to be honest," Guptill said. "It still hasn't sunk in yet."

Asked whether there was anything different about his match-day routine this time, he said: "I had a bit of a sleep-in this morning. Then I had a bit of breakfast and went down to the ground early and had a go on the bowling machine with the coach. Then I went out and did what I did."

Boult backed up the opening batsman's feat by taking four for 44 to move to the top of the tournament's wicket-takers' list with 19 as the West Indies folded for 250 in the 31st over.

They kept up with the required run rate, reaching 200 in the 25th over, but by then they were seven wickets down.

Chris Gayle, shrugging off the effects of a long-standing back injury, cracked 61 off 33 balls, including eight of the 31 sixes in the match as batsmen on both sides plundered the short boundaries.

New Zealand will now play South Africa in the first semi-final at Auckland's Eden Park on Tuesday, with fellow co-hosts Australia facing defending champions India in Sydney two days later.

"Sublime, just sublime," said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum of Guptill's stunning display of orthodox clean-hitting. "I will never forget it."

Guptill added: "After I got a hundred, I thought I should hit some boundaries."

New Zealand, favourites after emerging unbeaten from pool play, had a rocky start when regular batting hero McCullum, who won the toss, fell cheaply for 12.

But opening partner Guptill, coming into form late in the tournament, took up the challenge as he blasted his second successive century after scoring 105 against Bangladesh in New Zealand's concluding pool match.

He chewed up the West Indies attack, hitting 24 fours and 11 sixes from 163 deliveries faced as he overtook the previous best World Cup score of 215 set by Gayle earlier in this tournament against Zimbabwe.

In all ODIs, Guptill's unbeaten 237 is second only to Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka in Calcutta last year, and broke his own New Zealand record of 189 not out against England in Southampton in 2013.

Agence France-Presse, Associated Press