ICC World Cup History: 4 Best cameo knocks in the semi-finals

#2 Grant Elliott - New Zealand vs South Africa, 2015

Grant Elliott floored Dale Steyn and South Africa with his blinder

Another World Cup semi-final appearance for New Zealand in Auckland, this time against South Africa. For the New Zealand cricket fans, the hammering they got at the hands of Inzamam in Auckland 23 years ago was still fresh in memory.

In 2015, South Africa set New Zealand a target of 298 in 43 overs. New Zealand lost their top four batsmen - Martin Guptill, Brendon Mccullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor with the score reading 149 for 4 in the 22nd over. New Zealand needed exactly another 149 runs in 21 overs.

In walked South African-born Grant Elliott, now playing for New Zealand against South Africa. He had Corey Anderson as a partner at the other end. Anderson helped Elliott’s cause by being aggressive in the beginning. Their 50-run partnership was reached in 48 balls.

Elliott reached his 50 off 53 balls with six fours and one six. Anderson too reached his 50, and the century partnership was posted off 92 balls. New Zealand needed 55 runs in the last seven overs. Elliott took care of the Morne Morkel threat by picking him up over square leg for a six. He never allowed Imran Tahir to settle down.

Elliott wisely played out Dale Steyn’s two overs which cost just 11 runs. When the final countdown started, New Zealand needed 29 runs off 18 balls with Elliott batting on 63 at run a ball. Steyn gave away a mere six runs in the 41st over. That made it 23 required off 12 balls.

Elliott scored 11 runs, including a boundary in the penultimate over bowled by Morkel. New Zealand needed 12 runs in the last over, which was to be bowled by Steyn. After Daniel Vettori’s boundary, it came down to five off two balls with Elliott on strike.

That was when the experienced Steyn bowled a length ball which Elliott promptly deposited over long on. Elliott remained not out on 84 off 73 balls, one of the best innings ever played in a World Cup semi-finals. For South Africa, it was, as always, so near and yet so far.