I think the Black Caps will win Sunday's World Cup final.

How's this for a bit of good fortune.

Trent Boult has almost effortless pace, a beautiful line, perfectly effective swing and has unleashed a good dollop of unplayable deliveries in the World Cup.

One man who knows what the Black Caps will be feeling ahead of the final is Sir Graham Henry, former coach of the world cup winning All Blacks.

Ahead of their World Cup semifinal today, India and Australia took time to praise New Zealand's performance in claiming the first place in Sunday's final.

Forty thousand watched every ball, riding the tsunami of pressure as it vacillated between the New Zealanders and the South Africans.

When you hit the best fast bowler in the world for six to reach the World Cup final, you're going to have to answer some questions.

Grant Elliott smashed a piece of cricketing history straight into the hands of another cricketer at Eden Park - Auckland Hearts' allrounder Lucille Matthews.

His effect is beyond quantitative measurement. Without him, our chances of reaching a World Cup final would have been drastically reduced.

Fans desperate to get to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to support the Black Caps had to be quick yesterday.

Australian media are hailing the Black Caps nail-biting semifinal win as "dramatic", a "thriller" and as epic as a Lord of the Rings battle scene.

It's unlikely the wider public has full appreciation of just how close Grant Elliott was to missing out on his World Cup dream.

Rugby people will swear the 2011 World Cup final can't be beaten for drama and sheer occasion. But this was sport in the raw. It doesn't get better.

For a horrible moment there, Grant Elliott thought he had left his run too late, that he was going to be left not out and not going to Melbourne.

Grant Elliott sent the Black Caps through to the Cricket World Cup final after winning the match with a six with a ball to spare.

Even in Showgirls, the cricket was playing. Auckland had surrendered to the game.

When New Zealand were most in need of a hero at Eden Park, up stepped a South African.

Former New Zealand cricket captain and selector Dion Nash is delighted cricket in his home town finally has a place to call home.

There is no disgrace in being manhandled by South Africa. They are a hell of a team. But after six weeks of uninterrupted fun, it felt like someone had let the air out of the balloon, writes Dylan Cleaver.

New Zealand's rollicking World Cup adventure has a final, thrilling episode to run.

South African captain AB de Villiers admitted he’s never felt worse on a cricket field after losing to New Zealand in the Eden Park semifinal.

Rain has stopped play at Eden Park with South Africa on 216 for three after 38 overs.