When you hit the best fast bowler in the world for six to reach the World Cup final, you're going to have to answer some questions.

Grant Elliott smashed a piece of cricketing history straight into the hands of another cricketer at Eden Park - Auckland Hearts' allrounder Lucille Matthews.

Ahead of their World Cup semifinal today, India and Australia took time to praise New Zealand's performance in claiming the first place in Sunday's final.

Forty thousand watched every ball, riding the tsunami of pressure as it vacillated between the New Zealanders and the South Africans.

Australian media are hailing the Black Caps nail-biting semifinal win as "dramatic", a "thriller" and as epic as a Lord of the Rings battle scene.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson says the team shared some emotional words with each other and the Proteas in the changing room following the big semifinal.

It's unlikely the wider public has full appreciation of just how close Grant Elliott was to missing out on his World Cup dream.

Grant Elliott sent the Black Caps through to the Cricket World Cup final after winning the match with a six with a ball to spare.

Even in Showgirls, the cricket was playing. Auckland had surrendered to the game.

When New Zealand were most in need of a hero at Eden Park, up stepped a South African.

New Zealand's rollicking World Cup adventure has a final, thrilling episode to run.

There is no disgrace in being manhandled by South Africa. They are a hell of a team. But after six weeks of uninterrupted fun, it felt like someone had let the air out of the balloon, writes Dylan Cleaver.

Former New Zealand cricket captain and selector Dion Nash is delighted cricket in his home town finally has a place to call home.

South African captain AB de Villiers admitted he’s never felt worse on a cricket field after losing to New Zealand in the Eden Park semifinal.

Rain has stopped play at Eden Park with South Africa on 216 for three after 38 overs.

Matt Henry will be fully prepared to step into the breach in today's semifinal, says his former mentor and current New Zealand Cricket High Performance manager Bob Carter.

Today marks a special occasion for Black Cap who will turn out against South Africa, the land of his birth, in the World Cup semifinal.

Brendon McCullum pondered the question a moment, then gave an answer which sums up the way he and his New Zealand team have approached this World Cup.

When pace bowler Matt Henry returns to the New Zealand starting XI today for the World Cup semifinal against South Africa it will present a surprise decision, but one based on logic.

Daniel Vettori had a touch under three seconds to pull off his spectacular catch against the West Indies in Wellington on Saturday.

On a humid night in Dhaka at the 2011 World Cup, New Zealanders got an insight into the tenacity of Kane Williamson.

My father was an extremely hirsute man. His body hair had something of a gingerish hue as well.

What a time to be a cricket fan. What a time to be alive. How lucky we are to have a team this skilled, balanced and good looking?

It's not only the players who will wake up with frayed nerves this morning ahead of today's Cricket World Cup semifinal at Eden Park.

Brendon McCullum's reputation as a terrible coin tosser is actually undeserved when it comes to one-day cricket.