Auckland: A sensational win over South Africa in the heart-stopping semifinal has given New Zealand their maiden entry into the cricket World Cup final, a moment which victorious captain Brendon McCullum described as the “greatest time” of their lives.
“South Africa gave as good as they got all day. It was a great advertisement for cricket. Everybody involved will remember this for the rest of their lives….(It is) the greatest time of our lives. We have enjoyed the experience. The crowds that have turned, the brand of cricket we have tried to play,” McCullum said after the win at the Eden Park here on Tuesday.
But contrary to the result, South Africa were cruising at one stage when AB De Villiers was on song after opting to bat but rain halted their progress.
Asked what he was thinking at that time, the Kiwi skipper said, “Keep raining is what I thought when AB was going.”
“The way we kept giving it in the field, the way we bowled, we did good. Even with the bat. We wanted to hang in till the end. What a great innings from Grant (Elliott). He came out of wilderness not long ago.”
Chasing a stiff target of 298 runs in 43 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis rule in the rain-curtailed game, New Zealand rode on Elliott’s match-winning unbeaten 84 run knock to scamper home with one ball to spare.
But it was McCullum himself who set the base for the chase with a quickfire 59 off 26 balls up the order.
Asked about his own fiery knock at the top, McCullum said, “We had to generate some sort of run-rate early, that is what we tried to go. Credit to South Africa the way they played tonight and throughout the tournament.”
McCullum said his team was not thinking of any preferred rival from India and Australia, in Sunday’s final at Melbourne.
“Hope the crowds are all dreaming the way we are. Getting it (World Cup) would be nice. We don’t mind whom we face in the final. They are both quality sides, but we know if we play the way we want to we have a good chance,” he said. (PTI)
