ICC World Cup 2015: New Zealand enter finals after beating South Africa in nail biting finish

New Zealand have created history by entering the final of the 2015 ICC World Cup after defeating South Africa in a nail biting finish in the semi final played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Tuesday.

The match was interrupted by rain and was reduced to 43 overs, and the Black Caps sealed a win in the penultimate ball of the final over. New Zealand needed 12 runs in the last over and Dale Steyn was handed the ball. Grant Elliott finished off the match with a six as the Black Caps won by four wickets and a ball to spare.

The co-hosts have now made it to the final of the World Cup for the first time in history. They will play the winner of the second semi final match to be played between India and Australia on Thursday.

AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat first. South Africa lost two openers very early in the innings as they were 39/2 after 10 overs. Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw steadied the innings, before the latter was dismissed.

Du Plessis and De Villiers then took charge and in the batting powerplay scored some quick runs. That was when rains interrupted play and the match was reduced to 43 overs. South Africa managed to score 281 runs for the loss of five wickets, and the required target was adjusted to 298 runs Duckworth-Lewis method.

In reply, the co-hosts got off to a brilliant start by skipper Brendon McCullum who scored 59 of 26 balls, before becoming the first man to be dismissed in the seventh over. His dismissal was followed by three quick wickets, when Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson steadied their innings.

The duo stood their ground and put on a 120-run partnership, which took away the game from South Africa. The Proteas missed out on two run out chances and two drop catches, which cost them heavily and a place in the final.

Elliott was awarded the man of the match for his unbeaten knock of 84 runs. New Zealand will next travel to Melbourne for the finals at the MCG on Sunday. So far, the Black Caps have remained unbeaten in the tournament and are one win away from their first World Cup success.