Festive atmosphere for World Cup semi

Blackcaps fans David Hillyard, left, and Chris Warren make their way to Eden Park for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Semi-Final match between NZ and South Africa. Photo / Nick Reed

There was a festive atmosphere outside Eden Park today, mixed with an undeniable tension ahead of New Zealand's clash with the formidable South Africans.

Among the throngs of orange shirts, New Zealand flags and silver ferns abounded, with the odd flick of the green and gold of South Africa.

The three Kothwala sisters - Farhen, 15, Aqsa, 12, and Arshin, 8 - hardly slept a wink last night they were so nervous.

But the youngest thought the question of who would win was rather a silly one.

"Obviously we're going to win, of course we're going to win," she said.

Image 1 of 8: Supporters at the fanzone in Auckland's Britomart. Photo / Sophie Ryan

One of the few South Africans wearing his nation's colours outside Kingsland train station was Scott Kimble, of Durban.

"I haven't copped too much flak, I usually cop a little bit more when I'm wearing a Springbok jersey actually."

David Hillyard, of Auckland, has always liked a bit of cricket but he said he's never been this enthralled before.

"It's absolutely awesome what they've achieved. Win, draw, whatever happens today they've managed to do really, really well and make New Zealand proud."

Loyalties were divided all around Eden Park ahead of the match but perhaps nowhere more than in the friendship of Aron Prosch and Richard Wright.

While Prosch was rooting for South Africa and Wright cheering for New Zealand, it was hardly a straightforward decision for either man.

Prosch, from Cape Town, has been in New Zealand since 2010 and had warmed to the All Blacks, but his cricket support still lay largely with South Africa.

"Today I'm very much with the Proteas. It's kind of like my home sport from Cape Town and the Newlands cricket ground."

Wright, on the other hand, said he would do his utmost to balance his friend's fandom, but even his own support was split. A native Englishmen, Wright moved to New Zealand 10 years ago and had backed the Black Caps all tournament.

Across town at the Fanzone in Auckland's Britomart around 300 fans turned up to watch the game by the time it started.

John Paranihi made the trip into the city on the ferry from his home on Waiheke.

"It's a real buzz," he said.

"[The Fanzone] is like when we had the Rugby World Cup and The Cloud was open, it's great," he said.

The majority of the crowd at the Fanzone appeared to be Black Caps supporters, many waving flags and with face paint.

In Christchurch all eyes were on Eden Park.

The Pegasus Arms Restaurant and Bar was starting to fill up mid-afternoon with workers who managed to get off early.

Workmates and project managers Phil Marr, 39, and Ashley Gilmore, 42, were drinking pints, engrossed in the game.

"We've got a good boss -- he's joining us shortly," said Mr Marr, decked out in his tan and brown retro New Zealand cricket shirt.

"Who wouldn't let their guys go and watch this game," Mr Gilmore said.

"This is four years in the making. A semifinal. This is what New Zealand is all about."

The weather in the nation's capital put a dampner on things with around 100 fans braving wind gusts in Wellington's Civic Square as the first ball was bowled.

Many settled in on beanbags to watch the match.

Bars around the area were also filled with fans fixed to the screen.

The Herald's decibel meter reached a new high when Corey Anderson successfully reviewed a not-out decision and claimed Faf du Plessis' wicket.

It reached 107 decibels - higher than the 105 achieved when Trent Boult took Hashim Amla's wicket.

The Herald's decibel meter was jumping all over the place when New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was smacking South Africa's bowlers to all corners of the ground for a quick-fire 59.

At least 12 times it exceeded 100 decibels, the highest reading a 106 when he brought up his 50 in the fifth over.

A Dale Steyn wide a few balls earlier also drew a 100-decibel cheer from the pumped Eden Park crowd.

One fan sure to have been screaming his lungs out was Indian man Uday Wadhwani, who's been following the World Cup around the country.

"It's W for Wellington, A for Auckland, D for Dunedin, H for Hastings, W for Wellington, A for Ashburton, N for Napier, I for Invercargill, bro," he said in a horse voice, black and white paint covering the circumference of his shaved head.

"I'm a big fan of the Black Caps, I really want them to win - look at my face, I haven't even done this for my country, it's just for the Black Caps. Brendon McCullum has motivated me a lot, even if it's raining, I really don't care.

"All I want is to go to the finals, to create history and see India in the finals. Whoever wins in that final, that will be a win-win situation for me."