Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Fixture Info and Live Stream Details for Final
New Zealand reached their first-ever World Cup final on Tuesday with a scintillating penultimate-ball victory over South Africa in Auckland.
Grant Elliott hit a six to seal the win over the nation of his birth, capping a match-winning knock of 84 not out for the 36-year-old.
Australia and India will have to put on some show to top the drama of Tuesday's action when they clash for the second semi-final in Sydney on Thursday, with the Kiwis awaiting in the last two.
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Here are full details ahead of Sunday's final at the MCG:
Date: Sunday, March 29
Time: 2:30 p.m. local, 4:30 a.m. BST
TV Info: Sky Sports 2
Live Stream: Sky Go
New Zealand Reach Final
Neither South Africa nor New Zealand had reached a World Cup final ahead of Tuesday's clash at Eden Park, and it was the Kiwis who eventually broke their duck, winning by four wickets.
The Proteas were victims of circumstance to some extent, the untimely rain interrupting a batting onslaught and their total of 281-5 was significantly fewer than it could have been with the match reduced to 43 overs a side.
The Kiwis faced a target of 298—adjusted up by the Duckworth-Lewis method—and Brendon McCullum got his side's chase off to a flyer as he scored a 26-ball 59. The skipper did what he does best, per BBC TMS' Jonathan Agnew:
Elliott and Corey Anderson put together a key partnership of 103, but South Africa took late wickets to leave the Black Caps needing 23 runs off the final two overs.
A massive six from Elliott off the bowling of Dale Steyn sealed the victory with one ball remaining, with the Kiwis finally reaching their first final having fallen at the semi-final stage on six previous occasions.
Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and David Miller impressed for South Africa with the bat ,while Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel so nearly did the job with the ball.
But they failed once again to reach a World Cup final—this is their fourth semi-final defeat—and several fielding errors arguably proved very costly, per The Sunday Times' Simon Wilde:
New Zealand are worthy finalists, though, and they will prove dangerous opponents no matter who they meet in Melbourne on Sunday.
India and Australia Meet in Second Semi-final
The second finalist will be decided on Thursday in Sydney when defending champions India face co-hosts Australia.
The Indians have been impressive so far this tournament, winning each of their matches and bowling out their opponents in every contest.
Sydney's surface could work in India's favour as spin could prove effective at the SCG, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq citing turn as a potentially key factor in Thursday's match, per The Age's Jesse Hogan:
However, the Aussies have a wealth of dangerous pace in their side, Mitchell Starc having taken 18 wickets in six matches, outshining the ever-threatening Mitchell Johnson.
And in the batting lineup, Australia have stacks of talent and experience, with numerous players capable of playing a match-winning innings—see David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke and Glenn Maxwell to name but four.
The atmosphere is likely to be electric in Sydney, which could assist the Australian side, who are favourites ahead of a mammoth clash.
Another blockbuster encounter is surely in the offing as New Zealand await their opponents for the final after a thrilling tournament.
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