Follow over-by-over coverage as New Zealand chase 298 for victory in just 43 overs after rain-delay at Auckland's Eden Park
10:54AM GMT 24 Mar 2015
NEW ZEALAND BEAT SOUTH AFRICA BY FOUR WICKETS (D/L) TO REACH WORLD CUP FINAL
WRAP: Finally the World Cup comes to life with a contest which the tournament has been crying out for. South Africa are left to reflect on the what-ifs again. What if the rain had not have caused a two-hour delay. What if de Villiers did not fluff that run-out chance, and what if Duminy and Behardien had not comicly collided and missed a great chance to send man-of-the-match Elliott back to the pavillion in the penultimate over? Those that didn't witness today's clash with label South Africa as 'chokers' again, which will be harsh on de Villiers side. New Zealand, themselves used to be the nearly men, have finally got over their semi-final hurdle heartache to reach a first ever World Cup final thanks to McCullum, Elliott and Anderson. But what chance do they have against either Australia or India to go one better and actually clinch silverware for their hard efforts? Thanks for joining us today. Please follow our live coverage of Australia vs India on Thursday morning to see who they will face in Sunday's final at the MCG.
10.31 You've got to feel for McCullum's counterpart AB de Villiers as South Africa fall short again. Yes they may rue a missed run-out chance and that calamity in the field late on which denied them of Elliott's wicket in the penultimate wicket, but they played their part in a thoroughly entertaining match.
It was an amazing game. I couldn't ask for anything more. We're hurting over this. We play for the people back home, hopefully the passion we showed made a difference and that people can still be proud of us, even though we have lost tonight.
"There have been some wonderful performances. We had a wonderful thing going. We are a unit, but the unit came unstuck today. There have been very good individual performances throughout the tournament. To the teams in the final, all the best for whoever wins."
Duminy and Behardien collide as they both attempt catch
10.19 New Zealand captain McCullum on reaching the final:
It’s pretty amazing. I thought the game was outstanding. It was a great advertisement for cricket and I’m sure everyone here will remember it for the rest of their lives, I know we will. When it was raining I just thought, keep raining. There were two very destructive batsmen at the crease and set. We just knew we had to hang in there. Even with the bat, we had to hang in there and give ourselves a chance near the end. What an innings from Grant, he’s come in from the wilderness not long ago, and now he’s won the semi-final.
"It’s the greatest time of our lives as players. It’s been an incredible ride all the way through. I hope they’re all dreaming as much as what we are. We’ve got a huge occasion in a few days time. It’d be nice to win it."
10.02 What a win for New Zealand and what an innings for Grant Elliott, finishing on an unbeaten 84. It was his partnership with Corey Anderson that helped steer the Black Caps to their first World Cup final but the foundation was set by captain Brendan McCullum who struck a blistering 59 off 26 balls to get their reply up and running. New Zealand, so often the bridesmaids after seven semi-final defeats, finally have their moment in the sun. Australia take on India in the other semi-final in the early hours of Thursday morning. Who do you want to see face the Black Caps in the final?
Elliott was man-of-the-match as New Zealand reached the World Cup final
43rd over: Six balls then. Which way is this going? Steyn has ball in hand. Vettori swings and misses from the first but they run and claim a bye. Elliott can't find the gap on the next and South Africa cut out the danger. New Zealand need 10 from four balls. Steyn is now given treatment on the pitch, seemingly for cramp and a drinks break of sorts is called. What a time for cramp to strike, he did go off the field earlier for a slight strain. Vettori is back on strike. He cuts out wide and finds a gap - it's run for FOUR. New Zealand now need six from three! He swings and misses on the next but he's already charging down the single, de Kock throws to the non-striker's end, but NZ are safe, now they need FIVE from TWO. Elliott gives it the big up and under and hits it perfectly, that's a huge six - the match-winning six. New Zealand have done it, they beat South Africa by four wickets to reach the World Cup final for the first time. NZ: 299-6 Elliott 84, Vettori 7. NZ BEAT SA BY FOUR WICKETS WITH ONE BALL TO SPARE (D/L)
42nd over: New Zealand need 23 from 12 runs here with Vettori on strike. The big man connects but slaps it to Amla who is there at short extra cover. Elliott is back on strike but skies a slower ball which du Plessis chases down. Again it hangs around for an age, but it lands to safety. What a let-off for the Black Caps. They now need 19 runs off 9. Is there a final twist to come? Vettori swipes a delivery out to the boundary where Mokel mops up. Elliott crunches a delivery over cover for four. What a time to hit a crucial boundary off the penultimate ball of the over. If NZ tie, they will go through after finishing higher in their pool group. They want the win, though. Elliott goes for a big one on the next, it's being chased down by the outfied where there's panic as Duminy attempts a catch which is falling into Behardien's hands. NZ 286-6. Elliott 75 Vettori 3
41st over: Steyn returns and makes the breakthrough as Ronchi goes after flicking one straight to Rossouw at deep square leg.
WICKET!! Ronchi c Rossouw b Steyn 8
WICKET!! Ronchi c Rossouw b Steyn 8
Elliott picks up the baton again and tries to stay on strike, attempting an audicious two when there wasn't anything on. Elliott scuttles and makes it as the throw from du Plessis misses the stumps. There was just inches in it. A quick single later and the big man Daniel Vettori is finally on strike. NZ need 24 from 14, he cuts one out wide and picks up a single. Elliott will want to keep on strike on this final delivery, he can't pick up the run and Vettori will be back on strike. NZ 275-6. Elliott 68 Vettori 1
40th over: Tahir's bowling has been tight, but he's giving away crucial singles and now concedes a boundary as Ronchi shows a nice flick of the wrists to hit one over cover drive. Ronchi has done well to settle quickly here. New Zeland need 29 runs from 18 balls. NZ: 269-5. Elliott 63 Ronchi 8
39th over: Ronchi comes in at a crucial time and gets up and running but Elliott isn't ready to let this one slip, striking a mighty six and then taking a quick single off de Villiers. New Zealand need 36 runs off 24 balls. NZ 262-5. Elliott 62 Ronchi 2
38th over: Morkel fires down a timely ripper which fizzes past Anderson to de Kock, he's been the pick of the South African pacemen. A mighty appeal goes up on the next delivery which Anderson took a swing and a miss out, but it's hopeful and the umpire shakes his head. Anderson launches a big up and under on the next. It's in the air, it hangs up there for an age but du Plessis settles himself and takes the catch. Is this the turning point?
WICKET!! Anderson c du Plessis b Morkel 58 (252-5)
Anderson hangs around in the outfield, he watches the replay and wonders whether it was a no-ball or whether the ball struck the spider-cam or if du Plessis made a clean catch. He did. After hanging around, he finally makes the short return to the pavillion. NZ 252-5. Elliott 54 Ronchi 0
37th over: De Villiers delivers a straight one which hits Elliott's pads and a mild appeal goes up. It looked a little high. SA are out of referrals and the umpire isn't interested. A quick double is just the tonic for Anderson. He wraps up another strong over by sweeping one over his shoulder for another four. NZ 251-4. Elliott 53 Anderson 58
36th over: Tahir is brought back into the attack. He's only conceded 21 runs from his first seven overs but opens up with an untimely wide. New Zealand require 66 from 48 balls, Anderson gets one through mid-on despite Amla's best attempt to block it for a four. He strikes past Tahir on the next for a single and that brings up his fourth ODI fifty and his second of the tournament. A great effort from the big man. Elliott times one strike to extra cover to perfection for four, bringing up his eighth ODI fifth in the process. With these two at the ship, it could well be game over for South Africa. NZ: 243-4 Elliott 52 Anderson 51
35th over: Elliott takes the attack to South Africa and launches a big 'un off Morkel's first delivery of the over. It's his first six of the match, and what a time to claim it. Anderson takes one to the groin a couple of deliveries later and grimaces as he tries to regain his focus. He offers a thumbs back up to Morkel but what punishment will he dish out now after that blow? He launches one down extra cover, de Villiers tries to steer it away from the ropes but he can't stop the boundary. He hits the next ball low and hard, but it's straight to the SA captain again and that's a comfortable one for him to control. NZ: 231-4 Elliott 47 Anderson 45
34th over: 10 overs to go now and it's still anyone's game. The rain earlier which saw a two-hour delay has certainly worked to New Zealand's advantage. The Black Caps mull over a second run after Miller goes for a run-out attempt but no-one is following up behind the stumps. After much debating, they decide against it. At this stage, they don't need to make such rash decisions. Elliott manages to pick up two and strong hands from de Villiers manages to deny a four on the final delivery. NZ: 219-4 Elliott 40 Anderson 40
33rd over: Anderson smashes Morkel's first delivery right back past him to draw level with Elliott on 37. The crowd find their voices again with calls of 'Corey, Corey'. He's been immense tonight. It doesn't matter where he's bowled to, he attempts to strike the living daylights out of the white ball. He swings and misses at Morke's penultimate ball from the over, which allows him a break out in a large smile. He nudges one for a quick single, to keep the Black Caps ticking over very nicely. NZ: 213-4 Elliott 37 Anderson 38
32nd over: South Africa need Steyn to make the breakthrough here, otherwise this semi-final could soon be running away from them. The crowd are starting to get anxious, New Zealand have been in this position plenty of times before without reaching the final. Oooh, there's drama here on the second delivery. Elliott and Anderson are caught at sixes and sevens as they attempt a quick single. Anderson hot foots it back to the non-striker's end but De Villiers fumbles the run-out, dropping the ball and knocking the bails off with his his fingers. The decision is referred to the third umpire who makes a not out call, the right call and one which could be the biggest one of this last-four clash. The captain fantastic CAN'T do everything. A misfield on the boundary gives New Zealand a timely four after a sound over from Steyn. NZ: 208-4. Elliott 37 Anderson 33
31st over: De Villiers brings himself into the attack trying to turn the tide this game with NZ requiring just 99 runs from 77 balls now. The 200 comes up as Elliott takes a quick single. Anderson slaps at the next delivery and is in aggressive mode here as the pair continue to grow in confidence, picking up the quick singles at will. De Villiers blocks another straight return from Anderson down low, but the captain fantastic can't do it all himself. NZ: 203-4 Elliott 33 Anderson 32
30th over: Steyn is back on the field and seemingly injury free as he fires down a couple of deliveries which zip off the surface. Elliott connects on the third delivery but can't find a gap. He does at the second attempt the next delivery. De Villiers chases down and is lightening quick with his throw, but that's the 50 partnership up for Elliott and Anderson. There's a half-hearted appeal as Anderson swings and misses at a delivery, but there's nothing doing. NZ: 199-4 Elliott 32 Anderson 30
29th over: Duminy feels the heat, delivering a wide much to the crowd's delight as New Zealand keep the run-rate ticking over. Duminy fields from his next delivery which is pushed away by Anderson for a quick single and some good fielding from Du Plessis and Amla keep the rate down before Anderson punishes a sloppy delivery from Duminy with a mighty six. That was a gift for the co-hosts. NZ: 196-4. Elliott 29 Anderson 30
28th over: Anderson cuts at one which Morkel does his best to get low to and restricts Anderson to just a single, that one was really fizzing through mid-on. Another strong over from Tahir keeps NZ in check. NZ 183-4 Elliott 27 Anderson 20
27th over: Some great fielding at full stretch from Rossouw denies Elliott a quick single, but Elliott manages to find the gap on the fourth delivery, striking through mid-on for four. This keeps NZ ticking over just as Philander was getting back on top of the Black Caps. Elliott takes another quick one and NZ now need 119 off 96 balls. We could be in for some finale. NZ 179-4. Elliott 24 Anderson 18
26th over: Tahir is brought back on and gets Elliott swinging and missing early on. Elliott manages to bat one full delivery away for a quick single which brings Anderson to the crease and he's nibbling away at a few offerings without any job and drinks are called. NZ 174-4. Elliott 20 Anderson 18.
25th over: The left-handed Anderson pulls one to the deep which lands in space but is quickly mopped up and keeps New Zealand down to two off Philander. He won't be denied on the next, pulling a second short delivery and striking a huge six into the delighted crowd at Eden Park. NZ: 173-4 Elliott 19 Anderson 15
24th over: Elliott sweeps to the man in the deep for a quick single to bring Anderson back on strike and he flicks the next to leg side for four. He attempts a second successive boundary down the middle but can't find the gap. Elliott picks up where Anderson fails and sweeps another four and Duminy is left wiping his brow. NZ: 165-4 Elliott 19 Anderson 10
23rd over: Philander almost tempts Anderson to play an outswinger, but he opts against it much to the South African pacemaker's disappointment. He fizzes another delivery down which this time Anderson connects to but he strikes it right into De Villiers' path. Anderson whips his head round on the next fizzer, appearing to nibble at another superb delivery from Philander. He then nods his head in appreciation, he nibbled but didn't connect to that one and he knows he's a lucky boy. Finally he relives the pressure by hitting one straight back at Philander for four.NZ: 155-4 Elliott 14 Anderson 5
22nd over: Duminy replaces Tahir and makes another breakthrough as Taylor is caught behind after flicking round his legs straight to de kock.
WICKET!! Taylor c de kock b Duminy 30 (NZ 149-4)
Corey Anderson joins the party and strikes a quick single. South Africa might just be turning the screw again here. NZ 151-4. Elliott 14 Anderson 1
21st over: Morkel comes back on and Elliott continues his fine start, steering the first ball round leg-side for a cool boundary. He miscues his next shot, but Du Plessis is on hand to mop up and attempts a run-out. It would've had to have been an instant hit, but his eye is out and Elliott returns to his crease. A mini-Mexican wave breaks out in the crowd as Elliott swings and misses one which nips through to de Kock. New Zealand are one run ahead of the par score at this stage NZ 148-3. Elliott 13 Taylor 30
20th over: Taylor has had more joy down the leg-side today, he's put on the backfoot on Tahir's final deliver but he manages to push it out to square leg. Just the single off the over. Steyn headed off the field at that last change seeming to rub his groin. NZ 143-3. Elliott 6 Taylor 30
19th over: Steyn is brought back into the attack. He took some punishment from McCullum earlier during his three-over spell but it's a much-different contest now with the crowd almost silenced by that loss of Guptill. Taylor blocks a couple of decent deliveries but then manages to nudge one away to pick up two. He manages to find the gap on the next, striking a four down mid-wicket. NZ 140-3. Elliott 6 Taylor 29
18th over: A huge moment in the game as Taylor opts for a quick single. There doesn't look a run on there and there isn't. Guptill stutters then puts on his sprinting shoes but there's no way he's going to make it, he doesn't.
WICKET!! Guptill run out 34 (NZ 128-3)
Grant Elliott comes in and is instantly into the action, flipping a ball round his legs for four. Another single for Elliott, but that's a big set-back for the Black Caps. New Zealand 133-3 Elliott 5 Taylor 23
17th over: Guptill slaps a straight drive past Philander's right-hand side for four on the first delivery. He swipes at a short delivery on the next for another single as New Zealand look to pick up the pace again after a couple of quiet overs. Taylor gives a second short ball short shrift and Miller fumbles on the boundary and pushes it into the rope which sees De Villiers removing his cap and puffing out his cheeks. New Zealand 128-2. Guptill 34 Taylor 23
16th over: New Zealand manage to pick up three singles off Tahir as South Africa edge back into things. New Zealand 116-2. Guptill 26 Taylor 16
15th over: Philander takes his fourth over and stems the tide, just conceding one run. South Africa are a little shell-shocked after McCullum's blistering 59. New Zealand 112-2. Guptill 26 Taylor 16
14th over: Taylor makes the call to take a two after a clip to square leg, it's a good call as he easily makes the crease. A fumble from Steyne allows another quick run. It's a strong reply from the co-hosts, currently hitting a run-rate of 8.00. New Zealand 112-2. Guptill 25 Taylor 16
07.25 So we join the action with New Zealand two wickets down, Brendon McCullum hitting a quickfire 59 before being caught by Dale Steyn and Kane Williamson bowled by Morne Morkel for just 6. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor are looking to pick things back up.
07.15 Morning all and welcome to semi coverage of the semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand in Auckland where rain has reduced the contest to 43 overs per side.
South Africa who won the toss and opted to bat overcame a shaky start to recover to 216-3 off 38 overs.
But with Faf du Plessis and skipper AB de Villiers going well, rain then stopped play. Following a two-hour delay, it was decided to reduce the contest.
Just two balls after the return, Du Plessis was given out caught behind down the legside on review without adding to his 82, to end a stand of 103 with De Villiers.
But a blistering 49 off 18 balls from David Miller helped South Africa finish on 281-5 - the Proteas scoring 65 in their last five overs.
That leaves the Black Caps with a stiff revised victory target of 298 under the Duckworth/Lewis method.
De Villiers, who was dropped on 38 finished on 65 not out.
Between them, New Zealand and South Africa have appeared in nine semi-finals without reaching a World Cup final. Who are you backing in today's contest?
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