New Zealand have booked their spot in the 2015 Cricket World Cup final after defeating South Africa by 4 wickets at Eden Park in the Semi Final on Tuesday night.
In a thrilling match that was shortened due to rain, New Zealand were set an impressive 298 to win after the South African total of 5/281 from 43 overs was altered via the Duckworth-Lewis scoring system.
The South African middle order provided the bulk of the runs. Faf Du Plessis hit 82(107), a devastating 49 from 18 balls hit by David Miller including 3 sixes and 6 boundaries combined perfectly with an important captains knock by AB de Villiers.
De Villiers hit an unbeaten 65 runs from 45 balls and was just warming up when rain halted play. New Zealand dropped a chance to remove De Villiers on 38 when he was put down at cover by Kane Williamson. The South African captain decided to make the most of the extra life, hitting 2 fours and a six to bring up his 32-ball half century.
While he copped some punishment, Corey Anderson finished with three wickets for the match backed up by some fine fielding by the home side.
A 71-run partnership from 37 balls was just the start the Black Caps needed. Captain Brendan McCullum hit a blistering 26-ball 59, including 4 sixes and 8 boundaries. De Villiers brought on the spin of Imran Tahir to change the momentum and slow the run rate. After dispatching Dale Steyn for 36 runs from 14 balls, Steyn had the last laugh, catching a cramped McCullum hook shot at mid-on off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
When Morkel bowled Kane Williamson in his next over, the Eden Park crowd let go a nervous murmur as the large target seemed a bit further away. Guptil and Taylor steadied the ship with some patient batting to stem the flow of wickets, picking off the odd boundary and keeping New Zealand in touch.
Both batsmen were removed within 4 overs and New Zealand found themselves 4 wickets down with 150 runs to win. A 100-run match winning partnership was formed between Corey Anderson and Grant Elliot for the 7th wicket. Both batsmen looked composed and comfortable on their home wicket before a vocal and jubilant crowd.
Anderson edged a ball way up into the night sky and was caught inside the fielding circle by Faf du Plessis. The fielder remained lying on the ground, screaming with the excitement of claiming the crucial wicket and re-establishing his side’s claim on the match.
Luke Ronchi strode to the crease looked to get straight to melting away the remaining runs with some red hot batting. He could not time a hook shot over the deep square-leg fielder and Steyn claimed the sixth wicket.
Veteran Daniel Vettori was just the man to steer his side home with Elliot up the other end to provide some big hitting. The two reined in the total to within 12 runs from the final over.
Two singles from the first 2 balls got the Kiwis off to a nervous start, but a Vettori boundary helped their cause. A valuable single brought Elliot on strike with a further 5 runs needed from the final 2 deliveries. Elliot didn’t wait around, smashing a six from the next delivery and New Zealand into the World Cup final.
“I don’t think this win is for myself or the team, but everyone here. The supporters have been amazing,” commented man of the match Grant Elliot after his 73 ball unbeaten 84.
“Everybody involved will remember this for the rest of their lives,” commented Kiwi captain Brendan McCullum.
“We had to generate some sort of run-rate early, that is what we tried to do.”
“Credit to South Africa the way they played tonight and throughout the tournament,” McCullum said through the roar of the home crowd.
AB de Villiers had a shocking night in the field, missing a tight caught and bowled opportunity, failing to prevent a boundary in the deep and botching two run outs opportunities. The usually reliable and motivating presence was off his game in what many will be unfairly referring to as another South African choke.
“I guess the best team has come out on top. We gave it our best. No regrets,” commented De Villiers after the match.
New Zealand will play the winner of Thursdays match between Australia and India at the SCG.
