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Cricket World Cup 2015 Semifinal New Zealand v/s South Africa: NZ win cliffhanger with 1 ball left, make final

The revised target is 298 from 43 overs for New Zealand to make the final.

Reported By:Pranav Joshi| Edited By: Pranav Joshi |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 08:29 PM IST

Cricket World Cup 2015 Semifinal New Zealand v/s South Africa: NZ win cliffhanger with 1 ball left, make final

WHAT A MATCH. It was worthy of a semifinal. South Africa batted really well but were undone by rain. They managed to get 281 in 43 overs, but then Brendon McCullum made sure New Zealand got 71 off 5 overs. From there on, it was a tall ask for South Africa to come back, but they did. Elliott and Anderson's partnership nearly sealed it for NZ before Morkel got the Proteas back into the game. SA were winning the game till the third last ball. They will rue the dropped catches and missed runouts. New Zealand remain unbeaten and make the final. South Africa go home, again.

AB de Villiers was crying, and so was Morkel. Steyn as well. South Africa have lost another semifinal.

Grant Elliott is the Man of the Match.

Over 43

SIX! The ball is just outside off and Grant Elliott swings hard, balls flies over long on for six and New Zealand have made the finals in a dramatic finish!

5 off 2, 4 will do.

Vettori misses, NZ run a suicidal single, but SA dont hit at either end!

FOUR. What a shot. Steyn bowls full, pitches on the line, wide, Vettori plays a beautiful flick, beats third man!!

The physio is out. Will Steyn be able to bowl?

Steyn has pulled a hamstring. Huge problems for SA.

Dot ball, hit straight to extra cover, 10 needed off 4.

11 off 5.

Steyn follows Vettori, who misses, and they run a crazy single.

Over 42

Oh God. Elliot miscues again, on the deep midwicket boundary, two fielders converge, and Duminy nearly kills the other. Two. DROPPED as well. 12 needed off 6 balls.

FOUR. Wide outside off, bad ball, Elliot times it well over extra cover. Great release shot. 14 off 7 needed.

Short, Vettori pulls it with power to fine leg, and Steyn makes a beautiful diving stop! Just one! 18 off 8.

Short outside off, Elliott pulls hard but miscues, just one.

Elliott goes high, trying to hit it into Melbourne, but miscues. Ball falls between two fielders. What a moment!

22 off 11

Low full toss from Morkel, Vettori hits hard but cant beat short cover, NZ get one.

Over 41

Straight to short cover, no run, NZ 275/6

Yorker on middle, Vettori is good enough to dig it out. Faf fields well at point to stop two.

24 off 14

Slower ball, down to fine leg for one.

OH DEAR. SA have done it AGAIN. This time it is the keeper, de Kock, who misses the ball as he flicks off the bails. Elliott would have been run out.

Run down to third man by Elliott, NZ get two.

29 off 17 needed. Terrific pressure. Vettori comes in.

OUT! Ronchi pulls Steyn straight down deep midwicket's throat!

Over 40

NZ 269/5, 40 overs gone.

FOUR. What placement by Ronchi! Over mid wicket, but well placed, not smashed. Beats both fielders on the boundary.

Swung hard, just a single to deep midwicket,  2 off the over so far.

No run, hit to short midwicket and stopped well by du Plessis.

Ball nips in hard after pitching but the batsman manages to score one to the off side.

Imran Tahir bowls.

Over 39

Single off the last ball past a diving AB. NZ 262/5, need 36 off 24.

SIX! Bad ball, slow half tracker outside off and Elliott pulls it easily for six.

Biffed down the ground by Ronchi but the long on fielder cuts it off.

One off two balls as captain AB continues. Interesting ploy. 

Over 38

OUT! Anderson goes, falls to pressure! 1 run off the over, short and quick ball from Morkel, Anderson miscues the pull and its caught well by du Plessis.

Morkel cuts Anderson in half, good over so far.

Morkel is back but NZ are doing it easy here. Two tight overs and two wickets. Can someone do it?

Over 36

Single off the last ball makes it 12 off the over again, just 55 needed from 7 overs.

FOUR. Inside out over extra cover, and New Zealand have one foot in Melbourne now.

Slammed down the ground and Anderson gets one to reach his 50. SA's bowling attack has looked ordinary without Steyn's form.

FOUR. Just outside off and slammed through cover point for four. NZ get close.

South Africa's most economical bowler, Imran Tahir comes on.

Over 35

12 off the over, NZ 231/4.

FOUR. Anderson goes over extra cover, the ball trickles towards the fence but de Villiers puts in a dive. He manages to slow it down but then goes over the fence and the ball goes along with him.

Morkel runs in then pulls out of the delivery at the last stride. The crowd boos.

Quick ball into the ribs, hits Anderson below the waistline. Painful.

Single off the second ball.

SIX! Morne Morkel comes back and gets scooped into the stands for six. That just went for six.

Over 33

One off the last ball, NZ 213/4.

Four dot balls follow as Anderson finally loses patience and hoicks across the line to no effect.

Fast ball, good line and length outside off, Anderson pulls out of the shot.

FOUR. Smashed down the ground by Anderson, no chance for anyone.

Morne Morkel comes back.

It's the compulsory powerplay. Advantage NZ.

Over 32

FOUR. Edged, and four. Morne Morkel fails to stop the ball at third man. NZ 208/4 after 32 overs.

Oh dear. the captain has missed a sitter! Corey Anderson was way down the pitch, no chance of making it back, and AB de Villiers at the non striker's stumps failed to flick off the bails with the ball in hand. He failed the second time to dislodge the stump.

Corey goes hard on the off side but just a single to sweeper cover.

Steyn runs in for his 6th over and Corey defends. 

Over 31

4 off the over, NZ need 95 off 72. 203/4.

On legs but Elliott couldn't get it away. Just a single.

Anderson slaps a good length ball hard down the ground for one.

Second ball is a yorker but Guptill manages to dig it out to square leg for one. 200 comes up.

Captain AB de Villiers is going to turn his arm over! 

Over 30

Corey swings hard, misses. NZ 199/4 after 30 overs.

Pacy yorker outside off, let go by Anderson.

50 partnership up in 50 balls.

Beautiful drive, but the ball slows down near the boundary. NZ get three.

Dale Steyn comes back.

Over 29

SIX. Slotted down the ground, into the stands by Anderson. NZ 196/4 after 29.

Long hop down leg and yet Duminy escapes with just two as the long leg fielder dives.

Wide ball, crowd cheers.

Duminy is back and Corey plays the ball down to long on for one.

Over 27

Single off the last ball, 5 off the over. NZ 179/4 after 27 overs.

Nice shape, seams away from Elliott who hangs his bat out.

FOUR. Driving length, wide outside off, and Elliott drives well. Beats cover and into the fence. ONE. BAD. BALL. PER. OVER.

Dabbed towards point but de Villiers dives like a hare and stops it. NZ hurriedly get back, no run.

Philander steams in and Elliott plays the first ball straight to short cover.

Over 26

Ripper, turns away at the last moment and Anderson hangs his bat out. Just one off the over, NZ 174/4 after 26.

Short, but rips away from Anderson, who tried to cut. The ball kind of died as it passed Anderson's bat and he was beaten.

Oooh...pitches on off, turns away from Elliott. The batsman went for the sweep and completely missed the line and length.

Imran Tahir now.

Over 25

SIX! Pulled hard for six, the ball hits the stand hoarding, what a shot. Another good over wasted at the end, NZ 173/4.

Pulled through midwicket and Anderson comes back for two.

Four dot balls, can Philander keep up the good work? Slipping in a wicket would be awesome.

Philander continues, two dot balls.

Over 24

10 off the over, NZ 165/4 after 24 overs.

FOUR. Swept hard, poor line from Duminy and Elliott gives him the full treatment.

Biffed down the ground and NZ get one more. SA shouldn't allow Anderson to play himself in.

FOUR. On the legs, bad ball and swept away for four by Anderson.

Duminy gets swept to long leg by Elliott for one.

Over 22

NZ 151/4 after 22 overs.

Wide down leg side, not a great delivery to a new batsman. 

Corey Anderson comes in. New Zealand seem to be in self-destruct mode at Auckland.

OUT! Ross Taylor is gone, bad ball down leg side and Taylor gets a tickle on it. de Kock holds it. Umpire gives it out and Ross won't contest it. 149/4 and the game has turned.

JP Duminy comes back.

Over 21

Oh. Ball is quick and cuts back off the seam. Cuts Elliott in half. What's more, the batsman had not brought his bat down before the ball passed by. NZ 148/3 after 21 overs.

Short ball, rib high and fast, Elliott takes his bottom hand off as he defends.

FOUR. Down leg side, and Elliott flicks it away for four. SA unable to exert pressure on a consistent basis.

Morne Morkel is back.

Over 19

FOUR, waste of a good over as Taylor plays a good on drive, he bisected mid on and midwicket perfectly. NZ 140/3.

Steyn just strays slightly on middle and Taylor whips it through midwicket for two.

Nice shape, good line and length, just on off, Taylor respects it.

Steyn swings the ball into middle and off and Taylor defends on the leg side.

Single down to third man off the first ball.

Dale Steyn is back.

Over 18

NZ 133/3 after 18 overs.

FOUR. Elliott sweeps his first ball to the fence, it went very, very fine.

OUT! Run out, Guptill is run out against the run of play. Taylor tapped the ball behind point and set off, the fielder was too close for comfort though. The throw was in and Guptill could not make it in time. NZ 128/3.

Over 17

12 runs off the over, NZ 128/2 after 17 overs.

FOUR. Pulled hard through midwicket, the fielder on the boundary dives and gets a hand to it but then it just rebounds off his other hand to the fence!

Short, pulled, but not timed well. Single as long leg comes running in hard.

FOUR. Guptill destroys the equation again by driving Philander straight down the ground.

Over 16

Just three off the over, NZ 116/2 after 16 overs.

3 off 5 balls.

Single down to long on.

Tahir continues. Taylor sweeps hard but finds deep square leg.

Over 15

Just one off the over. Good over from Philander.

One off three balls so far. But it's wickets that SA need now. 2 wickets will work well.

Over 13

Good over, just three off it. Philander fields off his own bowling and then mock-aims back at Taylor. The crowd boos. 107/2.

The last over of the powerplay is on.

Ross drives well but finds cover. Nevertheless he's batting much better today.

Philander is back.

Over 12

Single off the last ball, NZ 104/2.

SIX! Guptill plays an ugly slog sweep that nevertheless comes off the middle of the bat, and ends up far into the stands behind deep midwicket.

Over 11

Great ball, outside off and seaming away, Guptill plays and misses. Could easily have been out. NZ 94/2 after 11 overs.

Edged, the ball goes wide of third slip and third man gets round quickly to stop it.

FOUR. Short and wide from Morkel and Ross Taylor places it through the covers for four.

Morne Morkel continues. How about getting Imran Tahir in?

Over 10

Ross advances down the track a bit, tries to drive the ball past Duminy, but he stops it with a dive. Ross runs back from about 1/3rds down the pitch. NZ 88/2 after 10 overs.

FOUR. On middle and leg, Taylor sweeps and gets four!

JP Duminy comes into the attack and Taylor gets a single.

Over 9

Ross Taylor comes in and defends the first ball down the ground. NZ 81/2 after 9 overs.

OUT! Bowled. Williamson is gone! Played on! Slower short ball, Kane tried a swivel-pull this time but got an inside edge onto the stumps.

FOUR. Short, not very short but Williamson pulls it for four through midwicket.

Morne Morkel bowls three dot balls. The run rate is down to a frightening 9 from a stratospheric 14.

Over 7

Single off the last ball, a leg bye. NZ 72/1.

Kane Williamson is the new batsman.

OUT! Morne Morkel is the bowler, ball is short but into the ribs, and McCullum has cross-batted it straight to mid on. Relief for SA, big breakthrough. 71/1

Over 6

Wrong 'un from Tahir, Guptill tries to blast in down the ground but gets an inside edge. Maiden over, NZ 71/0 after 6 overs.

The ball was pitching in line, hitting in line, but GOING OVER THE STUMPS! Poor SA.

Guptill sweeps, misses, and the ball hits his back leg. Imran Tahir thinks its out, NZ have called for a review.

Over 5

Gives room, comes down the track and Steyn fires it wide. McCullum tries to stretch but fails to connect. NZ 71/0 after 5 overs, 25 off the over!

FOUR. Full on off stump, McCullum drives it off the backfoot, through cover point for four. 71 off 29 balls for NZ!

FOUR. On the pads, full toss, and helped away for four. Mayhem at Eden Park. Steyn has lost it.

SIX! Short again, McCullum swings hard, great hook shot, goes several rows back. 51 off 22 balls, what an innings.

FOUR. Gives room, ball is high on middle stump, McCullum biffs it down the ground for four.

SIX. No fear. McCullum charges down to Steyn and smashes him over long on for six. There was some serious torque on that ball. NZ are well and truly in the game now.

Over 4

FOUR. On the pads, flicked through square leg, this was a proper batsman's shot. The outfield is suddenly lightning fast! NZ 46/0 after 4 overs.

FOUR. McCullum swings hard now at a ball on middle, he doesn't time it well but it has enough legs to reach the deep midwicket fence.

Swung hard, ball hits McCullum in the back as he swiveled.

FOUR. Morne Morkel is into the attack but McCullum now goes over mid on for four.

Over 3

Single off the last ball, 6 off the over, NZ 32/0 after 3 overs.

FOUR. Short and wide and McCullum goes over extra cover again, clears it and its four.

Outside off, McCullum swings hard but misses. They ran an overthrow off the last ball.

Oh dear. Guptill hits to short cover and sets off, the throw comes in but misses the stumps. Guptill would have been out by a mile if it had hit.

Over 2

FOUR. On the hips, McCullum plays a swivel-flick that beats short fine leg. NZ 26/0 in 2 overs.

Full this time, McCullum goes straight but finds a deep mid off.

Down the track, he swings across the line again, but gets an inside edge onto the boot.

FOUR. Short again, McCullum goes over midwicket this time, didn't time it too well so it landed just inside the boundary.

SIX! Short again and swung over long leg for six with contempt!

FOUR. Philander bowls a short ball, McCullum charges down the track and swings, misses, but it is so high it sails over the keeper for four!

Over 1

Dot ball. NZ 8/0 after 1 over.

Straight on off this time, McCullum is squared up and edges to third man.

SIX! Short outside off, wider this time and McCullum swings over extra cover for six.

Outside off, pacy and short, McCullum swings and misses.

Great ball, right in swinging into the batsman's ribs, McCullum jumps and falls and loses his shoe!

Brilliant first ball, great seam movement, batsman gets an edge as he plays back and the ball flies to third man.

Dale Steyn steams in.

NZ openers come out to the middl. McCullum and Guptill.

New Zealand bowled really well early on, and SA were all nerves. 2 early wickets however did not set the tone for the match. Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis did a repair job, and then AB de Villiers and David Miller took South Africa to a big score. The Proteas will be a bit disappointed not to have got the full 50 overs to bat, but NZ will rue the 4 dropped catches more. 298 from 43 overs is still a daunting target. The second innings begins in 10 minutes.

Over 43

So the revised target is 298 from 43 overs for New Zealand to make the final. SA will hate this, they had 350 in sight if rain had not interrupted.

Two off the last ball, and South Africa finish on 281/5 off 43 overs. How many will New Zealand need now?

Duminy goes over the off side again, the cover fielder runs back but can't get to it despite a dive, and SA come back for two.

Wide ball. Too high, and umpire calls it a wide.

FOUR. Duminy goes over cover, he just clears the fielder who timed his jump badly, and the ball goes for four.

JP Duminy is the new batsman and he misses a hoick first ball.

OUT! Miller is gone for 49, he tried to go after a wide ball and got a nick to the keeper.

SIX! Miller lofts the next ball over long on, into the stands. He is now 49 off 17 balls. What an innings.

Over 42

1 bye, Miller misses but they run a risky single. No run off the over, SA 266/4. Just 7 off the over, great over.

Down the ground but the long on fielder cuts it off, SA get just 1.

Swing and a miss, AB is frustrated with himself/

Slammed down the ground again, just a single though.

FOUR. Miller is on fire. Another boundary down the ground, too short from Southee again. NZ can't get their bowling right now.

Over 41

SIX! Over mid wicket, six more, SA 259/4 off 41 overs.

SIX! Miller slams the next ball straight down the ground, straight into the hoarding. SIX.

Two runs off the next two balls. 

Wide ball for height.

FOUR. Thick outside edge from Miller, flies down to third man for four. Why is the field not on the fence?

Over 40

One off the last ball, 17 off the over, SA 239/4.

FOUR. Slashed down the ground, not great timing but it just beats a diving mid off and goes into the fence.  One ball left in the over.

FOUR. Full toss on off stump, slammed for four over mid off.

Short ball, not given a wide and Miller is distraught.

Southee goes wide and Miller still goes after him, gets a touch on it and it goes for four.

FOUR. Miller crashes a full ball down the ground for four.

Tim Southee comes back.

Over 39

Swing and a miss, end of the over, SA 222/4 after 39 overs.

Full toss, AB throws his bat, gets two to sweeper cover. 

Now a single, ABD on strike, 2 balls to go in this over.

David Miller is the new batsman and he gets a quick two.

OUT! Faf will be distraught, the rain has robbed him off a century in a World Cup semifinal. SA 217/4. F du Plessis 82 runs off 107 balls.

Second ball is a wide. Last over of powerplay. Oh, NZ are reviewing it.

AB de Villiers biffs the first ball down the ground but only a single.

11:03 IST Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Reports are coming in that the game will resume in about 15 minutes and is reduced to 43 overs a side.

10:52 IST Tuesday, 24 March 2015

The rain has stopped in Auckland and covers are on hold. But it is certain that overs will be reduced now.


Over 39

It's drizzling heavily now and the players come off. Sad for SA, they were on a rampage in the powerplay. 350 is on the cards if we play the full 50 overs.

Over 38

FOUR. Now du Plessis drives down the ground, four more. SA 216/3 after 38 overs.

FOUR. Great shot by AB, just outside off and de Villiers arches back and plays a beautiful late cut for four. Too fast for third man.

Three runs off three balls so far.

Smothered through the off side, beats point but just a single.

Trent Boult is back. There's a slight drizzle on the ground.

Over 37

Good over, just 5 off it. SA 204/3.

Oh dear. de Villiers goes for the hoick-pull off a short ball, gets a top edge but the ball lands between two fielders.

Great running by de Villiers after tapping the ball to mid off. The ball hits the stumps but de Villiers is in. Needless call to the third umpire who takes an enormous time to make a simple decision. AB was well in.

Southee back into the attack, huge run up and straight on middle and off. Dabbed to third man for one.

Over 36

SA 199/3 after 36 overs.

FOUR. Down the ground, slammed for four, no chance for anyone.

FOUR. Half cover drive, half slash through wide mid on for four!

SIX! Down the track and smashed over deep midwicket for six

DROPPED! AB de Villiers has been dropped! Short outside off, de Villiers seemed to slam it straight down the throat of short cover who spooned it. Actually Kane Williamson had to dive and the ball came too fast.

Over 35

FOUR. WHAT A SHOT. It's the shot of a great batsman, the best in the world. There is a gap between a fine short third man and the wicketkeeper. The delivery is just wide of off stump, and de Villiers plays a brilliant late cut to guide it between the keeper and short third for four! SA 184/3 after 35 overs.

OH DEAR. Faf hits to short cover, there was no run there. They run like madmen, and de Villiers dives hard to make it. A direct hit and he would still have been in! Great running. He's busted his face a bit though, got the helmet in the face or something.

Driven through the covers, NZ misfield, and Faf gets two. McCullum continuing with Henry.

Over 33

Single to third man, SA 162/3 after 33 overs, and its drinks.

FOUR. Attempted yorker, goes full and Faf slams him down the ground for four. SA have got rolling here, things getting dangerous quickly.

Slammed down to sweeper cover for two.

Down the track, Henry bowls a scorcher, great short ball which nearly took AB's head off, but he swayed out of the way well.

FOUR. Smacked down the ground, another great shot from de Villiers.

Over 32

Down the track again but he has to check his shot this time. Just a single, SA 151/3 after 32 overs.

FOUR. de Villiers advances down the pitch and slams Vettori hard down the ground for four.

FOUR. du Plessis goes for the cut, ball gets a little high on him. He gets the edge and it flies down to third man for four.

de Villiers gets a single to sweeper cover off Vettori.

Over 31

Very quick two by SA, 140/3 after 31 overs.

SIX! Down the wicket comes du Plessis and slams Henry straight as a rocket down the ground for six. Big six too.

du Plessis chips the ball over wide mid on, and gets to his 50. 50 off 85 balls.

Henry, who bowled 5 overs for 9 runs, is back.

Over 30

4 singles off the over, SA 129/3 after 30 overs.

Direct hit on the 3rd single but de Villiers is safe.

Daniel Vettori into his 8th over, gets milked for two singles off the first two balls.

Over 29

Ab tries to clear mid on and can't, is disappointed. 125/3.

Faf pulls down to long leg for one.

Very quick single from SA, AB was the man running towards the danger end as a slip fielder came charging in, but AB hared down the track.

Trent Boult comes back for his 8th over.

Over 28

SA 122/3 after 28.

Oh. Did it almost go to hand? AB drove a little early and the ball spooned up in the air, bounced just before Vettori's dive.

Rips, turns, bounces, and du Plessis hastily withdraws his shot.

AB drives Vettori through the covers and gets back for two.

Over 27

Down the track, short head high, de Villiers gets a single. SA 116/3 after 27 overs.

Driven down the ground, stopped by a running mid off who dives acrobatically in the end for no reason.

Too short, sails over de Villiers, called wide.

Slower short ball, de Villiers pulls and misses, ball goes over the stumps.

AB de Villiers is in. Astonishing numbers.

OUT! Rossouw is gone! Ball is short but closer to his body and hustles onto him. Rilee just chopped it in the air wide of point, and Guptill pulls out a brilliant catch! SA 114/3.

Short outside off, good bounce and Rossouw leaves.

Corey Anderson is the new bowler.

Over 25

After 25 overs, SA are 108/2.

SIX! Rossouw goes straight down the ground to a full ball, flat six which just hit the hoarding.

Grant Elliott to bowl.

Over 24

Oh. In the air and just wide of Guptill at short cover, Rilee survives. SA 99/2 after 24 overs.

Short on off, Roussouw tries to slam it away through wide mid off but good fielding saves three.

Too wide outside leg, Vettori seems to be bowling one atrocious wide every over.

Over 23

SA 93/2 after 23 overs.

Big appeal as Faf is rapped on the pads, but the ball likely pitched outside leg stump.

Full toss first ball, played to long on by Russouw

Kane Williamson is the new bowler.

Over 22

Three off the over, SA 88/2 after 22 overs.

Three runs off the first 4 balls as SA run a quick single.

Vettori has an average of 48 against South Africa.

Over 21

FOUR. Down the ground comes Faf, Southee pitches it full, turns into a low full toss. Biffed down the ground for four. SA 85/2 after 21 overs.

FOUR. First signs of attack. du Plessis comes down the track and lofts over mid off for four.

Southee is back into the attack as NZ continue to stifle the Proteas' runrate.

Over 20

Wide outside leg, Rossouw goes for a reverse paddle and negates the wide. SA 77/2 after 20 overs.

SA still opt not to attack.

Down the track, Vettori shortens the length and Faf has to defend.

Faf defends, gets an edge and the ball goes to short third man. No run.

Over 18

Good over except for the four wides. SA 71/2 after 19 overs.

FOUR WIDES. Way down leg as Vettori completely loses his line, and not even the keeper can stop it.

Over 17

Driven down the ground and SA get a quick single. 64/2 after 17 overs.

Just two runs so far off this over.

Pulled away but only a single to the deep for Faf du Plessis. He is on 23 off 47 balls.

Wide ball, short but completely loses the length and line. That would have been wide for both height and line.

Over 16

Just three off Vettori's first over and SA are 61/2 after 16.

Good length, into Faf on middle and played away into the on side for one.

Daniel Vettori comes in to bowl and Faf fails to slap him through the off side on the backfoot.

Over 15

Roussouw tries to beat mid off but can't. Henry is 6 runs from 4 overs. SA 58/2 after 15 overs.

Three runs off the over so far off 5 balls.

Over 14

Single off the last ball, 14 runs from the over, SA 55/2.

FOUR. Perfect cover drive, straight down the ground, no one had a chance. Then pulled into the deep for one.

Driven through the off side, and the ball dies again as it nears the fence, Daniel Vettori has an easier task this time.

Flicked away through the on side and Vettori makes a sliding stop on the fence much to the crowd's delight.

After another maiden over Trent Boult continues with five slips.

Over 12

Flicked to fine leg for one off the last ball. SA 43/2 after 12 overs.

Inswinging yorker, Rousseow digs it out, and gets two as NZ made a great sliding stop on the fence. 

Straight to short point, it almost flew into his hands.

Boult still continues with FIVE slips.

Over 11

Oh. On off, swings away and Faf plays and misses. SA 39/2.

Driven down the ground, mid on dives to field, and Grant Elliott nearly takes out the umpires legs with the throw.

Four balls for no runs so far.

Faf anticipates the short ball, but it doesn't come. Henry's ball just hits his bat and du Plessis looks foolish.

Over 10

SA 39/2 after 10 overs.

du Plessis drives but finds mid off.

FOUR. Edged and goes for four to third man. Actually it was about three-quarters deliberate.

Trent Boult continues into his fifth over.

Over 9

Outside off, good length, but the batsman can't get it past short cover! SA 34/2 after 9.

Faf taps to short mid on and runs hard, a direct hit would have got him there!

Short ball angling in and Faf plays it to the deep on the on side for one.

Matt Henry will bowl for the first time in the World Cup. 

Over 8

Oh man. Brilliant ball, just outside off and holds its line as Roussouw plays for the inswinger, beaten! SA 31/2 after 8 overs.

Rilee Roussouw comes in to bat. FIVE SLIPS HAVE BEEN SET.

OUT! Maybe not! de Kock dances down the track, tries to go straight, but gets a thick edge to third man who catches it! SA 31/2.

South Africa seem to have settled down slightly after those early nerves. If only Amla had survived it.

Trent Boult continues and du Plessis edges onto his pad for no run.

Over 6

Now Boult goes around the wicket, fires it in and the batsman leaves with comfort. SA 27/1 after 6 overs.

On the pads but Faf fails to find the gap on the on side.

de Kock gets an inside edge to a good length ball on off, but it goes nowhere.

Over 5

Just one off the over, SA 26/1 after 5 overs.

Fast, swinging ball outside off, left alone.

de Kock flicks Tim Southee to long leg for one.

Over 4

FOUR. Flicked through square leg for four, anti-climactic end to a great over. SA 25/1 after 4 overs.

Outside off, left alone easily.

Faf du Plessis is the new batsman.

OUT! Amla is bowled. Nerves have done him in! Amla tries to drive to a full ball outside off, it's seaming in still and Amla gets an inside edge that shatters his stumps! NZ draw first blood and how! SA 21/1.

de Kock gets away from the Boult madness for a while by flicking a single onto the on side.

Over 3

FOUR. Beautiful on drive, first real convincing shot from South Africa. Through midwicket for four. SA 20/0 after 3 overs.

FOUR. Strays on leg stump and Amla flicks away for four to fine leg.

Edged, and falls short of the slips!

Amla pulls, and gets a top edge. It clears the infield but the fielder sprinting it from long leg can't catch it despite the dive!

Over 2

SA 10/0 after 2 overs.

DROPPED! Full on middle, terrific ball swinging away, de Kock plays inside the line and on the backfoot, ball takes the edge and Ronchi spoons it! What's more it's gone for four!

Full and swinging outside off, de Kock drives for two.

Another ball with prodigious swing, de Kock leaves. Almost too much swing.

FOUR. Beautiful shape and de Kock nicks! Drops short of second slip and goes for four!

Boult rushes in, swings away from off stump, brilliant length and de Kock leaves.

Over 1

Maiden over from Southee, SA 0/0

Fifth ball is defended down the ground, still on naught.

Driving length outside off, Amla hits straight to short cover.

Third ball is swinging outside off and let go as well.

Outside off and good bounce again, Amla leaves.

First ball, Southee to Amla, bit of pace outside off and slightly short, Amla defends.

6:20 IST Tuesday, 24 March 2015

The pitch is very hard and 'there is absolutely no green tinge', says Shaun Pollock. Flat pitch, short ground? God help the bowlers today.


6:04 IST Tuesday, 24 March 2015

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum says New Zealand would have batted first too.

South Africa have won the toss and de Villiers says they will bat first. He says Vernon Philander comes in for Kyle Abbott. Interesting decision.


4:45 IST Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 1st semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland. The match begins at 6:30 am IST.

It is the first time ever that South Africa and New Zealand meet in a semifinal. The occasion is very significant because neither team has ever made it to a World Cup final. New Zealand has lost six semifinals and South Africa three. So we are assured of a first-time finalist at the 2015 World Cup. Here we dissect New Zealand's six semifinal losses.

What's more, it's very hard to pick a winner. All bets are off because New Zealand are in red hot form and playing at home, while South Africa are....well, South Africa. Both teams have quality batting and bowling attacks which can rip the heart out of the opposition on their day. Here's the match preview.

New Zealand have shown that each of their batsmen can be dangerous on their day (as Martin Guptill proved against West Indies), while South Africa have few problems in the batting department now that Quentin de Kock seems to be back in form. What South Africa would like however is for Dale Steyn to be at his best, which he hasn't been this World Cup. What New Zealand would rue is the loss of pacer Adam Milne.

History is a friend to New Zealand though. In their last knockout game against South Africa at a World Cup, the Kiwis beat SA by 49 runs in what looked to be an easy chase for the Proteas. The 'choke' word was mentioned again in that quarterfinal, and will rear its head yet again today. SA captain AB de Villiers might want to stay off that turf. Indeed, he didn't seem to be bothered by the C-word on the eve of the match.

South Africans have expressed confidence in their team making it to the final. David Miller thinks his team has it all worked out against New Zealand. Former skipper Kepler Wessels concurs.

Brendon McCullum though knows that New Zealand are slim favourites and is in no mood to concede the psychological battle to the Proteas. The 2011 World Cup quarterfinal between the two was marred by ugly sledging and gesticulating but McCullum says NZ are a different team today.

In fact, the two captains held press conferences on the eve of the match in Auckland.

Here are some vital facts for South Africa and New Zealand at this World Cup, and against each other in ODIs.

If New Zealand have shown any weaknesses, its perhaps that they have not chased very well at this World Cup. Here's a question - would New Zealand 'choke' if they chase against South Africa today?

For complete live coverage of the World Cup, visit dna's special page.

 

LIVE COVERAGE

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