BLACKCAPS opener Martin Guptill hit the fastest T20 half century in New Zealand history at Eden Park this afternoon — only to be eclipsed a few overs later by his BLACKCAPS and Mondiale Auckland Aces teammate Colin Munro.
The smashing efforts came as the BLACKCAPS stormed to a nine-wicket win in the second ANZ T20 to clean up the Series 2-0 against Sri Lanka.
As the BLACKCAPS went after the Sri Lankan total of 142, Guptill's 50 arrived off just 19 balls.
Munro replaced him at the crease and promptly smashed a new record, off just 14 balls.
Relive the match and reaction as it unfolded
He got there in typical Munro style with a six, for the second fastest T20 fifty in international cricket, behind only India's Yuvraj Singh (12 balls).
Prior to today, Guptill and Aaron Redmond had shared the BLACKCAPS record of 23 balls.
Remarkably, on the same afternoon in Australia, WHITE FERN Sophie Devine smashed 47 off just 15 balls in the Women's BBL T20: stunning performances all round in the countdown to the World Twenty20 for both the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS teams.
Devine already holds the world record for the fastest women's T20 international half century after her 18-ball feat in India in 2015.
Thank you for all the kind messages today. @manuz05 was outstanding with the bat and @grantelliottnz was a gun with the ball! #NZvSL
— Martin Guptill (@Martyguptill) January 10, 2016