The BLACKCAPS continue to make their mark on the Indian Premier League and English County Championship, as we build toward the start of the tour of England.
In the IPL, Trent Boult was man of the match with 3-19 from his four overs in the Sunrisers Hyderabad's 20 run win over King's XI Punjab, including ripping Axar Patel's stumps out of the ground.
Brendon McCullum took man of the match honours with 66 from 44 in the Super Kings' 97 run over King's XI Punjab, including this big six. he followed that up with 32 from 12 (at a lazy 266 strike rate!) against the Kolkata Knight Riders before falling LBW to Brad Hogg.
Mitchell McClenaghan took 3-31 in the match against Rajasthan Royals, including Steve Smith's wicket and that of Sanju Samson, when he was on 76 from 46. Tim SOuthee took 1-36 in the same match, picking up Unmukt Chad. The Indians won the match by eight runs.
Tim Southee's Rajasthan Royals sit top of the IPL table with 14 points from 11 matches, with Brendon McCullum's Chennai Super Kings within striking distance with 12 points from nine matches.
Brendon McCullum still holds the highest individual score with his century, and tops the six-hitting table with 18 - he's back in action tonight against Royal Challengers Bangalore - Mitchell McClenaghan's Mumbai Indians will play the Dehli Daredevils on Wednesday morning, while Tim Southee's Royals will play Trent and Kane's Sun Risers on Thursday night NZ time.
In England, Martin Guptill plundered 227 from 176, including 29 fours and 11 sixes last weekend for Derbyshire against Gloucestershire, telling derbyshireccc.com: "When the new ball came I just thought I'm going to try to hit every ball. It came out of the bat nicely and just came off. Luckily I hit a few gaps and hit a few over the ropes as well.
"I think I play my best cricket when I'm looking to score runs, I've shown that in one-day cricket, so I thought if I can keep that sort of form going I might get going and who knows what can happen in four-day cricket." You can see video of Guptill's remarkable innings here.
Batting at five for Middlesex, James Franklin made 115 not out to help Middlesex chase 402 for victory against Somerset, who the BLACKCAPS will play in a warm up fixture before the first Test.
