Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott produced a superbly timed 103-run partnership to take New Zealand into their first cricket World Cup final, with a tense four-wicket win over South Africa at Eden Park on Tuesday.
Anderson with 58 and Elliott 84 not out had been thrust together at 149 for four in the 22nd over of the rain-effected semi-final and calmly took their side within sight of victory before Daniel Vettori joined Elliott to guide their side home to ecstatic scenes in Auckland.
Earlier, South Africa captain AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 103 from 73 balls to power their team to an imposing 281 for five.
The co-hosts were set 298 to win from 43 overs on the Duckworth-Lewis system after a rain break five minutes short of two hours.
Neither side has ever played in a World Cup final.
