Cricket World Cup 2015 Results: New Zealand vs. South Africa Score, Updated Odds

New Zealand will play in their first-ever Cricket World Cup final after overcoming South Africa by four wickets in an incredible semi-final at Eden Park.

A diligent 82 from Faf du Plessis helped the Proteas recover from the loss of early wickets after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Late flurries from AB de Villiers and David Miller pushed South Africa to 281 for five in a rain-reduced 43 overs.

New Zealand got off to an excellent start thanks to Brendon McCullum's brisk 59 but a 103-run partnership between Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott was central to their eventual victory, which was dramatically achieved with just one ball to spare.

Here’s a look back at the action and how that result affects the odds for the tournament title with the bookmakers.

Upcoming Schedule

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Remaining Fixtures

Semi-Final 2—Australia vs. India, March 26, 3:30 a.m. (GMT), Sydney

Final—New Zealand vs. Australia/India, March 29, 4:30 a.m. (BST), Melbourne

Schedule courtesy of BBC Sport

Tournament Odds

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Tournament Odds

Team	Odds
Australia	Evens
New Zealand	11/8
India	5/1

Figures courtesy of oddschecker.com and accurate as of 11:30 a.m. (GMT), March 24

New Zealand Beat South Africa with One Ball to Spare

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New Zealand (299/6, 42.5 overs) beat South Africa (281/5, 43 overs) by four wickets (D/L)

New Zealand are the first team into the 2015 World Cup final after a thrilling semi-final victory over South Africa.

Faf du Plessis top scored for the Proteas with 82, but it was late knocks of 65 not out from AB de Villiers and an 18-ball 49 from David Miller that helped push them to 281 in a rain-reduced 43 overs.

Brendon McCullum got New Zealand off to a wonderful start with 59 from 26 balls at the top of the order, while Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson both notched fine half-centuries to help the co-hosts edge toward the revised total of 298. It was Elliott in the end who kept his cool to hit the winning runs with just one ball to spare.

South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first, but things didn’t get off to the best of starts for the Proteas. Both openers were back in the dressing room after some superb new ball bowling from Trent Boult, with Hashim Amla (10) and Quinton de Kock (14) spurning the chance to become semi-final heroes for their side.

As noted by BBC Test Match Special, Boult is an expert in those opening 10 overs:

"

Boult has 12 wickets bowling in the first 10 overs in this WC, 3 more than anyone else. J Taylor is 2nd on 9. #bbccricket

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 24, 2015"

It meant that South Africa immediately had a rebuilding job on their hands and to the credit of Du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw, they did so with distinction. It was pretty slow going, but they dug in against the new ball and put on 83 for the third wicket before Rossouw was dismissed.

At this juncture, South Africa were looking in much better shape and with De Villiers striding to the crease it seemed things were inevitably about to get even better. The Proteas captain took on the role of aggressor alongside Du Plessis and motored to 38, but New Zealand looked to have their man when De Villiers skewed one in the air to short cover.

But Kane Williamson dropped the South Africa skipper and immediately paid the price as he moved to 50 within the next three balls, per ICC:

"

FIFTY! De Villiers shows no mercy for the drop and goes 6, 4, 4 to move to 50 off just 32 balls http://t.co/zMv3ls8RX8 #NZvSA #cwc15

— ICC (@ICC) March 24, 2015"

De Villiers and Du Plessis put on 103 for the fourth wicket but just as South Africa looked to be building some momentum in the match, the game was temporarily suspended for a rain delay. Eventually the game was restarted, with the Proteas batting effort reduced to just 43 overs.

Du Plessis fell for a diligent 82 just two balls after the restart and the man who joined De Villiers at the crease was Miller, who came out swinging. After some phenomenal striking, he looked to be on the cusp of breaking the record for the fastest-ever half-century at a Cricket World Cup. But he fell for a swashbuckling 49 from just 18 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

As noted by ESPN Cricinfo, Miller had eclipsed the exploits of his skipper while at the crease:

"

Not often someone scores 12 times as much as AB in a partnership. Miller 49, AB 4 http://t.co/WXK8WA9IeD #NZvSA #CWC15

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 24, 2015"

De Villiers eventually finished unbeaten on 65 from 45 balls and South Africa will have been happy with their score of 281 for five from 43 overs. New Zealand were given a revised target of 298 from 43 overs after Duckworth-Lewis calculation and from the off it was apparent McCullum was in no mood whatsoever for hanging around. 

He came out swinging in patented style at the top of the order, unsettling the South Africa bowlers from the off. The Black Caps captain set a magnificent early tempo to go to his half-century off just 22 balls and as noted by Cricket Record, he’s a player who has proven to be so destructive in World Cup matches:

"

Fastest 50s in WC 18-ball McCullum 20 McCullum 20 Mathews 21 Boucher 21 McCullum 21 Maxwell 22 McCullum today 22 Boucher 22 Chandimal #CWC15

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) March 24, 2015"

Naturally, it was a massive moment for South Africa when they prised him out. McCullum went after one too many and was caught off the bowling of Morne Morkel for 59 from just 26 balls, and two overs later Kane Williamson was on his way back to the dressing room after the rangy fast bowler prompted the Kiwi to pull the ball down onto his stumps.

Martin Guptill remained, however, and after his magnificent unbeaten 237 last time out, there was still plenty of hope for New Zealand. But after a mix-up with Ross Taylor he was run out, before Taylor himself was caught down the leg-side off JP Duminy to leave New Zealand toiling on 149 for four. 

Sports reporter Tony Veitch didn’t hold back in his assessment of Taylor’s running:

"

Hmm another run out. Love Ross Taylor, but he's the worst runner in the cricket.

— Veitchy on Sport (@veitchynz) March 24, 2015"

Those wickets left Elliott and Anderson at the crease and they were magnificent in helping New Zealand closer to the target. The pair put on a 103-run partnership before the latter departed, but his wicket and that of Luke Ronchi left the home side still needing a substantial score from their last three overs.

But Elliott and Daniel Vettori kept their cool superbly under massive pressure, with the former—who finished unbeaten on 84—striking a six off the penultimate ball of the innings to give the co-hosts victory. It sparked wild celebrations at Eden Park but reduced De Villiers and his team-mates to tears.

For New Zealand, getting over the line here represents a massive mental hurdle overcome. For so long they’ve been renowned as chokers on the biggest stage—especially in semi-finals—but when it came to the crunch at the climax of this tense occasion, the Kiwis held their nerve admirably to secure their spot in the final.  

Overcoming this psychological barrier in such thrilling circumstances will stand them in excellent stead when they face either India or Australia in the final.