Dan Vettori of New Zealand celebrates after Grant Elliott hit the winning runs. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Dan Vettori of New Zealand celebrates after Grant Elliott hit the winning runs. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The days of miracle and wonder continue for New Zealand's cricketers. How poetic do you want?
36-year-old Grant Elliott, born in South Africa but a proud bona fide New Zealander, completed what's known in the trade as a 'Williamson' and belted Dale Steyn, the world's premier pace bowler, into the Eden Park stands to take New Zealand into their first World Cup final with a four-wicket victory over South Africa at Eden Park...with a ball to spare.
Elliott finished on 84 off 73 balls, but it's the last wallop that will live forever in the memory in the chase for 298 in 43 overs.
'Four-wicket win' is the ultimate euphemism when you consider what was witnessed.
New Zealand needed 12 off the last over. Daniel Vettori, Elliott's fellow 36-year-old brother-in-arms, was at the other end. He opened the face and clamped on a Steyn delivery earlier in the over to get them within striking distance.
It is arguably the most poised batting performance in the country's ODI cricketing history.
Corey Anderson and Elliott steered the side to uncharted territory courtesy of a 103-run, 98-ball fifth-wicket partnership in a chase for the Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target, after rain disrupted play in the early evening.
The initial inspiration came from their captain.
Image 1 of 34: Blacks Caps in a huddle before their semifinal against South Africa at Eden Park. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Brendon McCullum delivered 59 off 26 balls, an innings the New Zealand cricketing public, a mesmerised crowd and his respectful teammates demanded.
In his first five overs the New Zealand captain brought the required run rate down from 6.93 to 5.97 with explosive hitting against a world class attack. In respective overs he took 25 off Dale Steyn; 14 from Vern Philander and nine from Morne Morkel.
After a demoralising period of rain, it was the cricketing equivalent of Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on stage. If the crowd weren't partitioned into seats they would have moshed.
Grant Elliott helps up Dale Steyn after hitting the match-winning runs off the South African paceman. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The chase became the more manageable proposition of 227 from 38 during his tenure. His strike rate was 227 - across the tournament it's been 192 - the best of any player to face more than 36 balls. He's consistently freed up deliveries from which his teammates could consolidate an innings.
There were shades of Stephen Fleming's 134 not out from 132 balls to defeat South Africa at Johannesburg's Wanderers ground in the 2003 edition. The Duckworth-Lewis method played a role there too. McCullum seemed oblivious to the pressure. The only time it showed overtly was when he lost a shoe in desperation pirouetting back into his crease during the first over.
South African captain AB de Villiers needed to draw on a tactical gem. The solution? An over from leg-spinner Imran Tahir who, until yesterday, had taken 15 wickets at 18.86 and a run rate of 4.14 at the tournament.
Martin Guptill, on six from nine deliveries, was cautious. He played out a maiden over. Morne Morkel came on from the south end. Whack. McCullum advanced, got cramped, and clobbered to Dale Steyn at mid-on. Tahir effectively bought Morkel a wicket.
The wickets of Kane Williamson, bowled for six, and Guptill, run out for 34, stung but New Zealand also received extraordinary benefit. At 204 for four in the 32nd over Anderson and Elliott had a mix up over a single and Anderson was well short of his ground at the non-striker's end when the stumps were broken. Unfortunately AB de Villiers didn't have the ball.
There was also a calamity in the outfield when Behardien and J-P Duminy butchered a catch at fine leg.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson,left, embraces Grant Elliott. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Earlier, South Africa accelerated to 281 for five. The rain-reduction saw it reduced to 43-overs.
It could have been worse. If the visitors had accessed their allotment the total was tracking towards 350-plus.
Incoming rain at 4.51pm played to New Zealand's strategic advantage by cancelling the momentum generated in the 103-run stand between Faf du Plessis (82 off 107 balls) and AB de Villiers (65 off 45).
South Africa were in a strong position - more than 288 has been chased down once before at Eden Park, by New Zealand in 2007 against Australia when they scored 340 for five in 48.4 overs.
The innings threatened to reduce the country's OECD status via a lack of office and manufacturing productivity, if the crowd was a gauge.
Brendon McCullum smashed 59 from just 26 balls at the top of the New Zealand innings.
The early cacophony diminished as du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw overcame the loss of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to Trent Boult which left them 31 for two in the eighth over. They conserved their energy as the third-wicket partnership built to 83 off 110 balls.
Rossouw flashed at a cut and was caught one-handed by Guptill from Anderson's short and wide second ball. Rossouw's exit, for 39 off 53, was the curtain-raiser for captain de Villiers' entry.
De Villiers and du Plessis had swotted up on the New Zealand attack. They came together at 114 for three in the 26th over, eased to 129 after 30 and then produced the exponential entertainment. Six overs in the first 30 went at more than a run-a-ball compared to 11 of the last 13.
South Africa scored 87 runs in eight overs until rain disrupted play. They made 65 in five upon the resumption. De Villiers gave the impression of a premonition when bowlers approached, such was the speed of his footwork and hands through the ball. His late cuts, guided through a slip cordon that McCullum opted to vacate, were imperious as he gave himself room stepping towards leg and opened the face.
He was merciless driving, pulling and generally clobbering any length that took his fancy, particularly against Anderson. Southee also struggled with his lengths when he bowled full with mid-off up, but he adjusted better when long-off was set later in the final overs.
Anderson snared Rossouw, du Plessis - the second ball after the resumption with a review for a wide - and Miller for 49 off 18 in an innings that looked more like golf. He scored his runs in a 55-run fifth-wicket stand with de Villiers. Anderson went for 72 from his six overs. He highlighted one of New Zealand's inadequacies; filling the allotment of a fifth bowler.
AB de Villiers fails to run out Corey Anderson. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Williamson and Elliott were also used as McCullum gambled his main resources of Boult and Daniel Vettori early. Matt Henry delivered none for 40 from eight, including two maidens, in his sudden elevation after a turbulent 48 hours. His first five overs conceded just nine runs as he responded to the 'Hen-ree' chant echoing around the stadium.
Perhaps he'll get a second chance next Sunday in Melbourne.
