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South Africa rue missed chances─── 17:30 Tue, 24 Mar 2015
South Africa are out of the Cricket World Cup!
New Zealand has reached their first ever World Cup final earlier today by beating South Africa by 4 wickets in Auckland with one ball to spare in their rain affected semi-final.
The Black Caps chased down the revised target in the 42.5 overs, with South African-born Grant Elliott smashing Dale Steyn over cow corner for a six for the winning runs.
With South Africa’s score on 216 for 3 after 38 overs, the heavens opened up and rain brought a halt to proceedings for over an hour.
The match was reduced to 43 overs per team, with the Proteas posting 281 for six and the score being revised to 297.
Faf du Plessis scored 82, AB de Villiers 65 not out and David Miller smashed a quick-fire 49.
After captain Brendan McCullum got the home side off to a blistering start with the bat, the Kiwis never really looked back in the match which made for a thrilling affair.
Elliot finished on 84 not out from 73 deliveries, while McCullum scored 59 and Corey Anderson contributed 58 with the willow.
Morné Morkel was the pick of the South African bowlers with 59/3 in 9 overs, while along with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander the seamers conceded 187 runs in just 25 overs.
A distraught AB de Villiers said the fact that this match will go down as one of the most memorable in World Cup history isn’t of any consolation to them.
He further said that the rain actually had no bearing on the game and it was all in their control.
While they lost in their fourth semi-final at the sports flagship event, coach Russell Domingo said his team didn’t play badly, and perhaps luck just wasn’t on their side.
The humble Elliot who represented Transvaal and Griqualand West in first class cricket, speaks of his winning six, which De Villiers described as probably the best shot of his life.
It’s the first time in the Black Caps have advanced to the final after losing in the semi-finals in five previous attempts.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
Listen to the Cricket World Cup afternoon wrap - 24 March:
