Top matches of 2015: 1) Black Caps' thrilling semifinal win

Reporter·NZ Herald·

30 Dec, 2015 06:30 PM3 mins to read

Grant Elliott celebrates hitting the match winning six which sent New Zealand into the Cricket World Cup final. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Grant Elliott walloping Dale Steyn into the stands at Eden Park, to help New Zealand win their first World Cup semi-final with a ball to spare, ranks as one of this country's most compelling sporting moments.

Has there been a more poised stroke in the nation's one-day international history?

There was a certain poetry to a South African-born all-rounder dispatching the world's premier pace bowler from his former homeland, and then reaching to lift him off the turf as he lay in anguish.

Elliott made 84 off 73 balls but the six earned immortality as New Zealand, in their 11th attempt across 40 years, moved into uncharted territory.

'Four-wicket win' was quite the euphemism.

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.

Corey Anderson and Elliott steered New Zealand to within striking distance with a 103-run, 98-ball fifth-wicket partnership in the Duckworth-Lewis adjusted chase for 298 in 43 overs.

Captain Brendon McCullum initially smeared 59 off 26 balls, an innings the New Zealand cricketing public, a mesmerised crowd and respectful teammates demanded. He freed up later deliveries from which his teammates could consolidate the innings.

His first five overs reduced the required run rate from 6.93 to 5.97 against a world class attack. In respective overs he took 25 off 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.

McCullum seemed oblivious to the pressure. The only time it showed overtly was when he lost a shoe desperately pirouetting back into his crease during the first over.

Earlier, South Africa accelerated to 281 for five before rain cancelled the momentum generated in the 103-run stand between Faf du Plessis (82 off 107 balls) and AB de Villiers (65 off 45). If the visitors had accessed their allotment of overs, the total was tracking beyond 350.

If the crowd was a gauge, the match damaged the country's GDP by virtue of a lack of office and manufacturing productivity. But for cricket fans, the days of miracle and wonder continued to the final at Melbourne, the last chapter in a memorable tournament.