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Cape Town - Martin Guptill had just produced the highest ever individual score in a Cricket World Cup match, and naturally everyone wanted to know how he had done it.
But faced with a barrage of questions after the match, the famously laconic Guptill had no explanation.
"I'm still not really sure what happened today to be honest," Guptill said. "It still hasn't sunk in yet.
Guptill hit 237 not out for New Zealand on Saturday which was the foundation of its 143-run win over the West Indies the quarterfinals. Aside from setting a tournament record, it was also the second-highest individual score in all one-day internationals, the highest by a New Zealander in ODIs — beating his own record — and only the fifth score in excess of 200 in the history of 50-overs internationals.
At the post-match press conference, reporters wanted to know the secret behind the performance, asking how the day had gone, starting with breakfast, and whether there was anything different about his match-day routine this time.
"I had a bit of a sleep-in this morning," Guptill said simply. "Then I had a bit of breakfast and went down to the ground early and had a bit of a go on the bowling machine with the coach.
"Then I went out and did what I did."
Guptill looked weary and still a little bewildered after standing in the middle of the Wellington Regional Stadium while 30,000 fans chanted his name, and left it up to others to find his innings' place in history.
"It was pretty cool (to hear the chants of the crowd). I've never had anything like that before and to hear it here in New Zealand is even better and in a quarterfinal is pretty special as well."
After Guptill had carried his bat through 50 overs to guide New Zealand to 393-6, batting first, Trent Boult bowled 10 consecutive overs and took 4-44 to help bowl out the West Indies for 250 in 30.3 overs and set up a semifinal against South Africa in Auckland. In doing so he reclaimed his place as the leading wicket-taker at this World Cup with 19.
Boult said with only two days to prepare for the semifinal at Eden Park, New Zealand had to quickly set aside Saturday's win and look forward.
"We'll travel tomorrow, get up there and prepare for it just like we have for any other game in this tournament," he said. "We've got a lot of scouting to do of a quality South African side.
"We'll get a training day in and then we'll get into it. It's going to be all go but I know the guys are very excited to get into it."
