Martin Guptill, New Zealand Run Riot and More from the 4th Quarter-Final

Martin Guptill and New Zealand made World Cup history as they saw off West Indies to reach the semi-finals.

Guptill smashed 237 not out for the Black Caps in Wellington, a new record for the highest individual score in the tournament.

His stunning innings helped the co-hosts make 393 for six from their 50 overs, with 153 of them coming off the final 60 deliveries.

West Indies came out swinging in reply and were able to keep up with the required rate. The problem was, however, that they lost wickets early and often.

In the end they were bowled out for 250 in the 31st over, Chris Gayle—who had briefly held the scoring record after making 215 earlier in the event against Zimbabwe—making 61.

The final margin of victory—143 runs—was the biggest ever achieved in a knockout tie.

Shot of the day

In a city that is more known for dealing with wind, it ended up raining sixes in Wellington on Saturday.

The teams combined to clear the rope on 31 occasions, a new record for a World Cup game. West Indies actually won that contest, managing 16 to New Zealand's tally of 15.

Gayle hit eight of them in his brief but entertaining innings, including three in a row off the bowling of spinner Daniel Vettori.

However, Guptill hit the biggest maximum of the lot. The right-hander swung a full toss from Andre Russell so hard that it not only cleared the rope but ended up on the roof of the stand.

It was a monumental blow and the second time he had managed to launch a six over 100 metres.

Delivery of the day

Bowlers on both sides found it tough going at the Westpac Stadium.

Tim Southee had taken seven wickets against England at the same venue earlier in the tournament—against West Indies, he conceded 82 in eight overs.

The New Zealand seamer did pick up two wickets in between being hit to the boundary, including bowling Russell with a ball that knocked off stump clean out of the ground.

It was not, though, the first time a stump had been flattened by a Kiwi paceman.

Trent Boult had ended Gayle’s fun in emphatic fashion via an inside edge. It was one of four wickets for the left-armer, putting him back on top of the wicket-taking charts.

Catch of the day

Vettori may well have pulled off the best catch of the tournament, never mind the day, when he held a stunner at third man.

Marlon Samuels must have thought his upper cut off the bowling of Boult was going all the way as he watched it sail towards the spectators.

Vettori, though, jumped up in the air and stuck up a hand to take a sensational catch.

Whether stunned or unsurprised, the veteran spinner celebrated like he had just taken the most straightforward of chances.

His team-mates rushed down to congratulate him as he just stood still, smiling. 

"

Dan Vettori wow!!! #CWC15 #NZ @HeatBBL @BLACKCAPS https://t.co/nsOSA8DEuq

— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) March 21, 2015"

Stat of the day 

Twitter reacts to Guptill

Next at the World Cup

New Zealand cannot afford to dwell for too long on their emphatic win over West Indies.

They now head to Auckland for a semi-final showdown with South Africa on Tuesday. The day-nighter is certain to result in a first—neither of the two nations has played in a World Cup final before.

The second semi takes place on Thursday in Sydney, reigning champions India going up against co-hosts Australia at the SCG.