Manchester: A couple of days before the semi-final against India, New Zealand coach Gary Stead was asked whether he would tinker with the opening combination since Martin Guptill had not clicked in eight games. The coach was not interested in the suggestion.

Guptill was heading for yet another failure, in his ninth World Cup game, after he was dismissed for one by Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth over. He has a run tally of 167 in the tournament. However, New Zealand persisted with the opening batsman in anticipation of that moment of brilliance from him. And it came, not while batting, but while fielding. A Lockie Ferguson bouncer forced Dhoni to tap the ball away behind square leg.