Martin Guptill plays shots (L, C) and gestures during the T20 World Cup match against Scotland in Dubai on Wednesday. AFP / AP

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

Riding on a blitzkrieg half-century by Martin Guptill, New Zealand defeated Scotland by 16 runs in their T20 World Cup match to boost their semi-final hopes in Dubai on Wednesday.

New Zealand hammered 171/4 and busted the myth that batting first on Dubai pitch is a difficult proposition. They restricted Scotland to 156/5 to notch up the second win.

Should New Zealand beat Afghanistan and Namibia also, they will seal a semi-finals berth without having to bother about other results.

Scotland were never in the chase as they kept on losing the wickets at regular intervals and could muster only 156/5. Their batsmen failed to convert the starts into big knocks and could not get the partnerships going.

Only George Munsey and Matthew Cross showed some courage but after their dismissals, Scotland’s fate was sealed before the formalities were completed as a late blitz by Leask was never enough to take them over the line. He played a fighting cameo of 20-ball 42, peppered with three sixes and as many boundaries.

Earlier, Guptill missed out on his first century in the T20 world Cup but lighted up the Dubai Stadium with some firework on the eve of Deepawali – an Indian festival of light.

 Martin Guptill bats during the T20 World Cup match in Dubai on Wednesday. AP

Now the irony could be that the firework of Guptill can throw India’s campaign in darkness. Both teams are fighting for one remaining semi-final berth and New Zealand, having defeated India in their round robin match have an upper hand.

Guptill and Daryl Mitchell gave New Zealand a decent start as the duo added 35 runs for the first wicket. Safyan Sharif took wickets in quick succession to push New Zealand on the back foot.

He trapped Mitchell in front of the wickets and had captain Kane Williamson caught by Cross for a duck as New Zealand were reduced to 35/2.

Guptill tried to take the pressure off by taking 17 runs in the next over. But Devon Conway gave a sitter to Cross while trying to play a reverse sweep.

Guptill was standing firm on one side, he shared a 105-run partnership with Glenn Phillips for the fourth wicket to all but put all the doubts to rest.

So, brutal was Guptill, as he scored 65 runs in the 105-run stand.  He toyed with the inexperience of bowling of Scotland and plundered runs from every corner of the ground.

The whole of New Zealand’s innings revolved around him as he proved his credentials what makes him a dangerous customer in the shortest format of the game.

Guptill looked set for to score the second century of the tournament after England’s Jos Buttler achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on the other day.

But the Kiwi opener fell short by seven runs and was caught by Macleod off Wheals. His innings was punctuated with six hits to the fence and seven over it.