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Black Caps need 298 off 43 overs to beat SA─── 08:34 Tue, 24 Mar 2015
The first Cricket World Cup semi-final is underway with South Africa facing New Zealand at Eden Park.
South Africa won the toss this morning and elected to bat first in an overcast Auckland.
South Africa were on the back foot early in the match with both openers, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock losing their wickets cheaply.
Hashim Alma lost his wicket for 14 runs with the score on 21, while De Kock got his marching order 10 runs later with his tally on 10.
Riley Rossouw of the Chevrolet Knights helped steady the ship with a knock of 39 runs before being dismissed.
With South Africa’s score on 216 for three after 38 overs, the heavens opened in Auckland and rain brought a grinding halt to South Africa’s onslaught.
At the time, Faf du Plessis was on 82 not out, which is the highest score by a Proteas batsman in a semi-final, while captain AB de Villiers was on 60 not out off 38 delivieries.
Ahead of today’s match, De Villiers said they’ve been working towards today’s semi-final for quite a few years.
After the rain interruption which lasted for over an hour, the match was reduced to 43 overs a side.
The Proteas posted 281/5 after the 43 overs, with the target revised to 298 for the Black Caps to win.
David Miller smashed 49 off 28 balls, while De Villiers was unbeaten on 65.
Ahead of the match, middle order batsman, David Miller said the lads are looking forward to the match and there is excitement in the camp.
South Africa and New Zealand have played in nine semi-finals among them at the World Cup, with neither side having advanced to the championship match.
The teams met in the knockout stages four years ago - the quarter-final - where New Zealand won by 49 runs in Dhaka and the contest boiled over when AB de Villiers was run out.
As well as being the last match for either side at the tournament, this will also be New Zealand's last match as a host nation.
Blacks Caps skipper, Brendan McCullum said there are nerves his side, but the general feel is that his chargers are looking to entertain the local crowd.
The last time these two sides met in a World Cup match was in the quarter-finals in Dhaka in 2011, which the Black Caps winning that game by 49 runs.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
Listen to the Cricket World Cup morning wrap - 24 March:
