Grant Elliott says he felt a huge release of emotion after hitting the six that took New Zealand past South Africa and into the Cricket World Cup final.

Elliott’s decisive blow against the country of his birth gave the Black Caps a four-wicket win with one ball remaining on Tuesday in Auckland.

“That’s the moment you feel a release of emotion,” he said.

“It was a great feeling for the team. You look at the crowd and you savour that moment and realise you’ve reached the final.”

Set a challenging target of 298 in a semi-final reduced by rain to 43 overs a side, the Black Caps finished on 6-299, with Elliott unbeaten on 84.

He said he felt the pressure of the situation, with five needed from the last two balls for victory.

But he was also conscious a tie would have been enough to make the final because New Zealand finished higher than South Africa in the pool stage.

“I knew it was up to me,” the 36-year-old said.

“I had two balls to take us home.

“The chase, we probably left it a bit late, to be honest. It was stressful towards the end there.”

The delivery that Elliott lofted over the long-on boundary came from Dale Steyn and, afterwards, he went over to comfort the paceman.

“You have to feel compassion,” he said.

“I felt quite sorry for him and quite sorry for a lot of the South African guys.

“It could have been us. It could have been me sitting there, having missed the last two balls. I would have been pretty gutted as well.”

New Zealand have reached the final for the first time after seven semi-final appearances.

They will meet defending champions India or four-time winners Australia on Sunday in Melbourne.

But, for South Africa, defeat at Eden Park meant another stumble at the penultimate hurdle and skipper AB de Villiers admitted he had never felt worse on a cricket field than at the end.

He believed his players had given their all, but hadn’t taken their chances, including the run-out he missed when he lost the ball.

“It’s difficult to say what kind of emotions I’m feeling,” he said.

“It’s obviously painful. We so badly wanted to take the trophy back home.”

De Villiers said the fact he had taken part in one of the great one-dayers was no consolation.

“Credit to New Zealand – they played a wonderful game of cricket,” he said.

“They held their nerve at the end.”

The Black Caps made a blazing start to their chase via skipper Brendon McCullum with a quickfire 59 from 26 balls.

But when Corey Anderson joined Elliott in the middle, New Zealand were precariously placed at 4-149.

The pair put on a century partnership to keep the Black Caps in with shot before Anderson fell for 58.

The Duckworth-Lewis method came into play after South Africa’s innings was disrupted by a two-hour rain delay.

When the players came back out, the Proteas smashed 65 runs from their remaining five overs to end on 5-281.

It was big-hitting David Miller who pumped the accelerator in the closing stages.

Miller smacked 49 from 18 balls, before being caught behind going for another big hit.

De Villiers ended unbeaten on 65, while Faf du Plessis top-scored for the Proteas with 82.

Earlier, South Africa lost openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock cheaply after winning the toss.

Seamer Trent Boult, the tournament’s top wicket-taker, claimed both scalps to take his tally to 21.

– AAP

South Africa’s World Cup semi-final woes

South Africa’s four-wicket defeat by New Zealand on Tuesday at Auckland’s Eden Park was their fourth loss in as many Cricket World Cup semi-finals, with the Proteas still to make it to the tournament’s showpiece match:

1992, SCG: South Africa 6-232 lost to England 6-252 (G Hick 83) by 19 runs (revised target)

South Africa, having being allowed into their first World Cup in the run-up to the end of apartheid, were on the cusp of a fairytale appearance when rain stopped play with the Proteas needing 22 off 13 balls for victory. But, by the time they came back on the field just 10 minutes later, the scoreboard showed they needed an impossible 22 off one ball under the rules governing rain-affected matches at the time

1999, Edgbaston: South Africa 213 (J Kallis 53; S Warne 4-29) v Australia 213 (M Bevan 65, S Waugh 56; S Pollock 5-36)

Shaun Pollock bowled impressively as South Africa, despite 50s from Michael Bevan and Stephen Waugh, held Australia to 213. But with leg-spin great Shane Warne taking four wickets, Australia stayed in the match. But it seemed Lance Klusener was set to win it off his own bat, despite having just last man Allan Donald for company. With four balls left, they needed just one to win but, as Klusener set off for a single off a mishit, Donald stayed in his ground, dropped his bat and a relay involving Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming led to the bowler underarming the ball to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to complete a run-out. The match was tied but eventual champions Australia went into the final on superior net run-rate.

2007, Gros Islet: South Africa 149 (S Tait 4-39) lost to Australia 3-153 (M Clarke 60 no) by seven wickets

South Africa were never in the hunt, collapsing in the face of tight fast bowling from Glenn McGrath (3-18) and Shaun Tait before Michael Clarke’s innings completed a comfortable victory for Australia

2015, Auckland: South Africa 5-281 (F du Plessis 82, AB de Villiers 65no) lost to New Zealand 6-299 (G Elliott 84no, B McCullum 59, C Anderson 58) by four wickets (D/L method)

South Africa were going well at 3-216 off 38 overs when rain stopped play and left them with just five more overs on their return. Faf du Plessis was unable to add to his score of 82 but, with AB de Villiers largely a spectator, David Miller thrashed 49 off just 18 balls as South Africa scored 65 runs in their last five overs. That left New Zealand chasing a revised victory target of 298 in 43 overs. Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum blazed his way to 59 at the top of the order but New Zealand were in trouble at 4-149. But a stand of 103 between Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott swung the match back New Zealand’s way before South Africa fought back and, with two balls left, the Black Caps needed five to win. However, Elliott capped a superb innings by smashing fast bowler Dale Steyn for six off the second-last delivery