Grant Elliott hits the six that won the match. Photo / Brett Phibbs
When New Zealand were most in need of a hero at Eden Park, up stepped a South African.
Grant Elliott, born and raised in Johannesburg, last night saw off the nation of his birth to book his adopted country a spot in Sunday's Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old, who moved to New Zealand in 2001, hit a six from the penultimate ball as the Black Caps chased down 298, setting a date with either Australia or India in the tournament showpiece.
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Elliott combined with Daniel Vettori to grab the 12 runs needed from the final over, finishing unbeaten on 84 and adding the climactic chapter to a thrilling occasion.
For a horrible moment, Elliott thought he had left his run too late, that he was going to be left not out and not going to Melbourne.
In a departure from the normal sportsman mantra of not getting too caught up in the moment, Elliott readily admitted that he "was really feeling the pressure" of the knife-edge finish.
"I knew I had two balls. Dan [Vettori] said we weren't going to run to the keeper again so I knew it was up to me. I had two balls. I knew four runs would do it because a tie was as good as a win. That was in the back of my mind.
"The chase, we probably left it a little bit late to be honest. It was stressful."
"That's the first moment that you actually feel a release of emotion. Cricket's the sort of game where you have to be quite unemotional in your approach. It was a great feeling... to savour that moment and know you're through to the final."
Elliott is aware that the result, and his heroics, have elevated this team to a special place in the public's conscious, but does not want it to end here.
"There's been a lot talk about us just making the semis and never quite kicking on... I know it means a lot to the team but you could see the emotions in the stands today. It means a lot to a lot of people. Hopefully we can repay the faith in the final as well."
There is one drawback for Elliott in all this. He will now have to skip his sister's big day.
"She's got a wedding on Friday. Unfortunately I will miss her wedding. I'm sorry. She's pretty happy for me but I'm going to have to get her a special gift I think."
More than 40,000 packed into Eden Park as the city hosted its biggest sporting event since the Rugby World Cup final and, for much of the match, the atmosphere resembled that tense night in 2011.
Eight hours of cricket is always sure to produce several twists and turns but the match featured more drama than any reality show can manufacture.
The fortunes of both the Black Caps and the Proteas swung as readily as Trent Boult with a new ball, with the two teams taking turns at experiencing ascendancy, doubt and despair. As a result, the supporters squeezing into every stand spent more time on the edge of their seats than on their feet.
Speaking after his side's loss, South African captain AB de Villiers said he had never felt worse on a cricket field.
"I have absolutely no regrets in this tournament, not one," de Villiers said. "We had a few chances to win, mine wasn't the only chance but I tried my best to catch it, I didn't. Life moves on. I didn't take it. We had our chances again after that. If I cost us, I'll gladly take the blame."
It's a mark of respect that when de Villiers came through the Eden Park north stand for his media conference the assembled punters rose in a spontaneous standing ovation to acknowledge the respect for his approach to the spirit and skills of the game.
Using his customary graciousness, de Villiers paid tribute to the spectacle.
"We left it on the field tonight, that's all I can ask of the guys. We had our chances in the second half of the game, but we didn't take them. We badly wanted to take it. It's obviously a painful loss to all those people supporting us back home.
"It's a credit to New Zealand. It was a wonderful game of cricket and they held their nerve to the end."
New Zealand cricket commentator veteran Bryan Waddle told Newstalk ZB the semifinal was the greatest one-day performance by a New Zealand cricket team in history.
He said he was worried the Black Caps wouldn't secure a win when South Africa posted such a big total in the 43-overs. "I should've realised this side is made of stern stuff. When someone has been needed to stand up, they have stood up, and last night it was Grant Elliott."
He credited good leadership, focus and "a lot of hard work" as the secret to the Black Caps success.
"New Zealand has had a plan of how to approach playing this game of cricket and they've stuck to this plan," he said.
Mr Waddle applauded the South African Proteas on their performance and gracious defeat. He said de Villiers was a "class act". "You have to have some sympathy for them."
Therese Walsh, Cricket World Cup organiser for New Zealand, told Newstalk ZB the ICC had given New Zealand a "strong endorsement" for the country's performance as a co-host.
The feedback from the teams, match officials and international media had been "overwhelmingly positive", she said. "They've all found New Zealand to be a really amazing place in terms of the whole population getting behind something."
Ms Walsh said half the games around the country had sell out crowds, and the fine weather had helped the success of the tournament.
She said the success of the Cricket World Cup on the back of the 2011 Rugby World Cup showed "we're not a one trick pony."
Perhaps the stakes were to blame, with the Black Caps chasing a spot in their first global final, or it could have been a combination of the variable weather and the weekday afternoon start. Whatever the reason, the crowd spent large parts of South Africa's innings subdued.
The Proteas' cleverly constructed innings would have also done some of the damage and, with the enemy well placed when the long-threatened rain finally came tumbling down, the opening of the heavens was almost a blessing.
"It's an awesome crowd," said former NZ all-rounder Dion Nash. "But I think we're just a little bit apprehensive at this point as to whether we should have had another wicket or two."
That apprehension disappeared, however, over the course of the delay. While the break itself was far from significant - the concourses were packed to capacity but the assembled masses were all on their best behaviour - the 14 overs lost to rain somehow enhanced rather than dampened spirits.
Almost two hours after the players left the field, a rainbow appeared over the East Stand and the fans found their feet as the Black Caps continued to chase their pot of gold.
Image 1 of 8: Supporters at the fanzone in Auckland's Britomart. Photo / Sophie Ryan
The first big cheer arrived when the covers were removed and soon the bowlers' run-ups were being clapped in unison on every ball. But that noise was nothing against what was to follow after the change of innings, when Brendon McCullum began dispatching the South African attack to all corners of the ground.
Boundaries created a cacophony of noise and sixes were treated as life-changing moments, leaving McCullum to ride the wave of noise to his half-century.
The "BREN-DON" chants were in full effect as early as the fifth over - from which McCullum took 25 runs - but the skipper was soon gone and the nerves returned.
It was almost eerie as the Black Caps slowly and steadily constructed their chase, again akin to the prevailing mood as the All Blacks battled for dear life to retain their one-point lead four years ago. The game swung once more and, instead of hands being raised, fingernails were being chewed. The departure of quarter-final hero Martin Guptill increased the collective strain. Singles were cheered, yes, but it was as if the fans were attempting to convince themselves rather than rouse the players.
1: The rain
It arrived 38 overs into South Africa's innings when their foot was about to go down. AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis had got them to 216 for three. The launch pad was in place. The effect of the rain was South Africa were left only five more overs instead of 12. They plundered 65, courtesy chiefly of David Miller, but New Zealand really dodged a bullet. Before the rain, they were looking at a target in excess of 300.
2: The botched run out
In the 32nd over, with New Zealand 204 for four, Grant Elliott pushed a ball from Dale Steyn towards point, but sent the charging Corey Anderson back. The throw came back hard and low to de Villiers at the bowlers' end and, with Anderson, on 33, well out, he couldn't grasp it. The bails came off and as de Villiers tumbled forwards he was unable to remove a stump to complete the run out.
3: The collision
On 284 for six, the final ball of the penultimate 32nd over, Elliott pulls Morne Morkel high to deep square leg. Farhat Behardien runs in to take the catch, but JP Duminy sprinting in from fine leg to his right, puts Behardien off. He spills the chance and the pair collide. Two runs for Elliott.
For more coverage of the Cricket World Cup from nzherald.co.nz and NZME check out #CricketFever.
- with additional reporting by NZME.
The White Ferns have remarkably reached the final.