New Zealand beat South Africa with a six off the penultimate ball to reach the World Cup final for the first time.
World Cup semi-final, Auckland South Africa 281-5 (43 overs): Du Plessis 82, De Villiers 65* New Zealand 299-6 (42.5 overs): Elliott 84*, McCullum 59, Anderson 58 New Zealand won by four wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method)
With five needed from two balls, Grant Elliott hit Dale Steyn into the stands to finish unbeaten on 84 and seal a four-wicket win in Auckland.
Elliott and Corey Anderson’s 58 had lifted the Black Caps from 149-4 in their chase of a rain-adjusted 298.
South Africa had earlier posted 281-5, with Faf du Plessis making 82, in a match reduced to 43 overs per side.
Captain AB de Villiers weighed in with an unbeaten 65 for South Africa and David Miller an 18-ball 49 in a target that was escalated by Duckworth-Lewis, but just within New Zealand’s reach.
It was a fourth unsuccessful World Cup semi-final for the Proteas to add to two defeats and the famous 1999 tie with Australia.
For New Zealand, a seventh last-four tie finally yielded a place in the final after six previous losses.
It was earned in a thrilling, fluctuating contest played out in front of a raucous and partisan crowd at Eden Park.
In scarcely believable drama that had echoes of Kane Williamson’s six to defeat Australia by one-wicket earlier in the tournament, South Africa-born Elliott smashed Steyn for six over long-on two balls after Daniel Vettori steered a four to the third-man boundary.
Elliott should have been caught from the final ball of the previous over, but his top-edged hook fell to the ground after a boundary collision by JP Duminy and sub fielder Farhaan Behardien.
That South Africa came so close was down to their third comeback of a game that both teams controlled at various points.