South Africa Vs New Zealand Live Cricket Score - Live Cricket Score, 1st Semi-Final - Commentary

100 runs for Finn Allen 12.5Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. FOUR, Four!

Change of ball.

12.4Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! He has got an answer for everything, has Allen. He goes to 96 off just 32 balls. SCORES ARE LEVEL!

12.3Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! That has been deposited into the Hooghly River. Short from Jansen, on the bodyline, Finn Allen stands tall and authoritatively nails the pull shot miles into the crowd for an enormous six.

12.2Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR MORE! Jansen goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on the pads. Allen hangs low to swat it away. One hand comes off the bat handle but he manages to get it away to the right of deep square leg for a boundary. 13 more needed for the Kiwis.

Aiden Markram walks up to Marco Jansen to have a chat. But the game is gone way out of South Africa's reach now.

150 runs for NZ 12.1Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Cheeky! Full and across the right-hander. Allen walks across the stumps and gets low to get under the ball. He uses the pace on the ball and scoops it towards deep fine leg for a four.

11.6Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. 1 run, On off, on a nagging length. Finn hits it to long off and retains the strike with a single. 21 more needed for New Zealand.

11.5Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! Hit flat but wide enough! Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Finn is quick to pick up the length. He goes back in the crease and just jabs at it. Hits it away from Marco Jansen at long on to his right for a six.

11.4Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Gets it away! Sliding into the pads from around the wicket, on a length. Allen goes deep in the crease and nurdles it behind square leg. The fine leg is up inside the circle and the ball skips across the practice pitches to find the fence.

11.3Keshav Maharaj to Rachin Ravindra. 1 run, Shorter and outside off, Rachin hits it along the ground to long off for a run.

11.2Keshav Maharaj to Rachin Ravindra. no run, Across again, on a good length, Ravindra punches it back to the bowler.

11.1Keshav Maharaj to Rachin Ravindra. no run, At the stumps, on a length, Rachin jabs it to mid-wicket, where the fielder dives to his right to prevent the single.

Finn Allen is down on the ground. The physio is out there for medical help. Looks like a cramp on his right leg. He is being helped with a few stretching exercises now, while Rachin Ravindra helps himself with a few sips of water. Allen is back on his feet and is ready to continue. After 11 overs, New Zealand are 137/1. South Africa at the same stage, were 80/5. Keshav Maharaj (2-0-21-0) is back on, replacing Kagiso Rabada.

10.6Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! BANG! Bosch bends his back and digs it in short, over middle. Allen stays leg side of the ball and stands tall to pull it over deep mid-wicket. Not quite from the middle of the blade but more than enough to clear the fence. Allen hobbles after completing the shot. Rachin calls for the physio for his partner. New Zealand need 33 more runs.

10.5Corbin Bosch to Rachin Ravindra. 1 run, Across off, on a good length, swatted towards wide mid on for a run.

10.4Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. 1 run, Short of a length, on top of off. Allen has a heave across the line. Mistimes it off the inner half to deep square leg. He limps a bit as he crosses over.

10.3Corbin Bosch to Rachin Ravindra. 1 run, A hint of seam movement away from the batter, on a good length. Rachin taps it in front of mid off and takes a quick single.

10.2Corbin Bosch to Rachin Ravindra. no run, On middle and leg, on a good length, Ravindra punches it with a straight bat to mid on.

10.1Corbin Bosch to Rachin Ravindra. FOUR, FOUR! Lovely wristwork! Honing in at the stumps, on a length. Ravindra brings his wrists into play and works it to the left of the diving mid on fielder for a boundary.

9.6Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra. 1 run, On a back of a length, on the leg stump line. Rachin stands tall and pulls it to the right of deep backward square leg for an easy run. New Zealand are 124/1 at the halfway stage, needing just 46 runs to win.

9.5Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra. FOUR, FOUR! In the midst of wham-bam-slam, there's a touch of class as well! An attempted off cutter from Rabada, on a good length outside off. Rachin Ravindra plays it on the rise and square cuts it to the left of the diving backward point fielder for a boundary.

9.4Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen. leg byes, 1 run, Spits up from the deck, short of a good length, on leg. Finn Allen looks to nudge it around the corner, but gets undone by the bounce. The ball lobs off the thigh pad and rolls into the square leg region. They cross for a leg bye.

9.3Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra. 1 run, Short and on top of middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra hops and glances it to deep square leg for a single to get off the mark.

9.2Kagiso Rabada to Rachin Ravindra. no run, Straight and full, on middle, Rachin crisply drives it to mid off.

Rachin Ravindra walks in at number 3.

9.1Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. out, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Finally, finally, something to clutch onto for the Proteas as Kagiso Rabada breaks the enormous 117-run opening stand. No celebrations from Rabada, just a cold, straight face as he knows they are still way behind in the game. It is a length ball that jags back into the batter off the rough patch. Tim Seifert lines up for a pull shot, but the ball skids low, beats the inside edge and crashes into the stumps behind. One of the two bails flew all the way down to the deep fine leg fence. A sublime knock from Tim comes to an end. New Zealand need 53 from 65 balls.

8.6Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. 2 runs, On a length, around the off stump. Allen rocks back and cuts it wide of deep point. It is mopped up in the deep with a slide. Allen collects a couple of runs.

8.5Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. no run, Flat and full, on off. Allen punches it to cover.

8.4Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! OUTTA HERE! A short ball from Keshav, in front of the stumps. Allen gets the ball at a comfortable height. He rocks back quickly and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

8.3Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Sliding on with the arm, on a good length, Tim punches it to long on for a single.

50 runs for Finn Allen 8.2Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. 1 run, FIFTY FOR FINN ALLEN! Off just 19 balls, the joint-fastest at this World Cup, as informed by Pommie Mbangwa. Finn has been the real aggressor and what a time to turn it on. Good length, sliding in and around middle. Allen works it down to long off for an easy single to get to his half-century.

8.1Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Runs are flowing with absolute ease for the Black Caps! Slides one onto the pads, on a fuller length. Finn Allen sits down and across on his knee and nails the paddle sweep to the deep fine leg fence.

7.6Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. no run, BEATEN! There's that slower one from Ngidi. It is that in-dipping slower one, full and outside off, Tim Seifert is totally outfoxed by it. Swings his bat early and gets beaten.

100 runs for NZ 7.5Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Laced away! A slower one from Ngidi, outside off and full. Tim waits on the front foot and creams the cover drive through the gap. Tristan Stubbs charges across from long off to his left, but fails to stop it cleanly. 100 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

7.4Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen. 1 run, Good length, outside off, Allen stands tall and jabs it through point for a run.

7.3Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. leg byes, 1 run, Back of a length, at the pads, Seifert misses to flick and the ball rolls off the thigh pad to the square leg region for a leg bye.

50 runs for Tim Seifert 7.2Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Fortuitous. FIFTY FOR SEIFERT! Much fuller, and outside off, Tim Seifert tries to smash it over cover, but gets a fat outside edge as the ball sails over the short third fielder and goes over the fence for a boundary. Seifert has ridden his luck, but that's how the game goes sometimes. He brings up his milestone in 28 balls.

7.1Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. 2 runs, Misfield! That's the last thing South Africa want. Knee length full toss, tailing on the pads. Seifert heaves it to long on. Jansen moves to his right, but fails to collect it cleanly and the ball rolls back. He turns around and stops the ball from going to the ropes, but again fails to pick it up, allowing the batters to pinch in the second.

6.6Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Nicely flighted up, full and middle, Tim Seifert gets on the front foot and creams it to deep extra cover for an easy single. 7 runs from Maharaj's first over. New Zealand need 79 runs from 78 balls.

6.5Keshav Maharaj to Finn Allen. 1 run, In-dipping length ball, on off, Allen rocks back and drags it down to long on for a single.

6.4Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Makes some room on this length ball and punches it to deep extra cover for a single.

6.3Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Through the gap! A touch short and flat in trajectory, outside off, Tim Seifert rocks back and blasts it wide of cover, beating long off to his left for a boundary.

6.2Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. no run, Drifts one on leg, on a length, Tim backs away and knocks it to mid-wicket.

6.1Keshav Maharaj to Tim Seifert. no run, Full and pushed on middle. Seifert leans on and eases it back to Keshav.

DRINKS BREAK! All New Zealand in the Powerplay as they have broken the back of the chase, knocking off nearly half the target inside the first six overs. South Africa are looking flat, and this is a much-needed break for them. Aiden Markram will tell his boys that one opening is all it takes, and they can still find a way back into the contest. It was surprising not to see spin in the Powerplay despite the well-documented struggles of the two Kiwi openers against it. We will see spin after the break. Here is Keshav Maharaj.

5.6Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. no run, A rare dot. Digs in a sharp bumper, around off. Allen lets it be. An anticlimactic end to the Powerplay. New Zealand are going ballistic with 84/0.

5.5Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Fortune favours the brave, they say. It is favouring Allen at the moment. Fuller delivery, just around the off stump. Finn Allen tries to attack it over cover, but slices it between backward point and short third for a boundary.

5.4Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Geez, that has raced away at the rate of knots! Overpitched delivery from Corbin, on the stumps. Finn Allen smashes it ruthlessly and gun-barrel straight down the ground for a boundary. Corbin helplessly watches it race away.

5.3Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Not from the middle, but it goes to the fence! Back of a length, outside off, Allen throws the kitchen sink at it, attempting to access the off side, but gets a thick outside edge and the ball flies over short third for a boundary.

30 runs for Finn Allen 5.2Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Runs are hemorrhaging at an alarming rate for the Proteas. Short again, on middle, sits up nicely for Allen. Finn presses back and pulls it into the gap, bisecting deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

5.1Corbin Bosch to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! Up and over! Short of a good length, outside off, Allen gets to free his arms, as he stands tall and square cuts it over backward point for a cracking six.

It's been all New Zealand so far. Corbin Bosch replaces Lungi Ngidi.

4.6Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. no run, This skids through, on a back of a length, on middle. Tim has a swipe across the line. He is a bit rushed and squeezes out an inside edge onto the pads. Another productive over for New Zealand. 14 runs off it.

4.5Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Absolutely crunched! After being hit for a six on the previous ball, Rabada drags his length back and Seifert is waiting for it on the back foot. He stands tall and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

4.4Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. SIX, SIX! In the slot and out of the park! Pace off ball by Rabada that spins back a bit towards the right-hander. He errs in length as this is a bit too full, on off. Tim gets the front leg out of the way and clobbers it over long on for a biggie.

4.3Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. no run, Pitched up now, on off. Tim gets the front leg out of the way and smashes it hard but can't get it past mid off.

4.2Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen. 1 run, A bit of lift off the deck, on a short of a length, on off. Finn rises with the bounce and steers it behind point for a single.

30 runs for Tim Seifert 50 runs for NZ 4.1Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. 3 runs, The 50 is up for New Zealand! This is on a back of a length, on middle. Seifert swings across the line and shanks it off the inner half wide of mid-wicket. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and it is hauled in. Three runs taken.

3.6Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! If you can do it, I can do just as well, says Allen to his partner. Full and at pace, outside off. Finn shuffles across to the stumps and gets low to find the elevation on the scoop. He executes it well and it sails over fine leg for a six.

3.5Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen. no run, Third slower ball in a row by Lungi. Full and around off. Finn cracks the drive but picks out Aiden Markram at mid off. He throws his head back in disappointment at missing out. A bit to either side and it would have been a boundary.

3.4Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Dipping slower ball, very full, on off. Tim watchfully eases it to long on for one.

3.3Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. no run, Out comes the off-cutter, fuller and wider on off. Seifert gets his hands through the shot but mistimes it to mid off.

3.2Lungi Ngidi to Finn Allen. 1 run, On a good length, angled in on the off stump. Finn pats it in front of cover and hurries to the other end.

3.1Lungi Ngidi to Tim Seifert. 3 runs, Ngidi goes full, on middle. Tim brings his wrists into play and flicks it wide of mid on. Kagiso Rabada dives to his right and takes the sting out of the shot. It slows down near the fence and it is cut off by two chasing men. The batters run the third on the throw.

2.6Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Fuller in length, on middle. Seifert knocks it to the left of mid on for a single. 18 runs off the over. New Zealand 133 runs from 102 balls.

2.5Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Easy as you like! Jansen switches to around the wicket and bowls it on off and middle. Not a bad ball at all. This is on a good length. Seifert plays it on the up with a high elbow. He goes back over the bowler's head and picks up a boundary. Tim also holds the pose for the cameras.

2.4Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. SIX, SIX! Innovative and mighty effective! Angling across, on a good length. Seifert makes the move to the off side and uses the pace on the ball. Plays the scoop over deep fine leg and clears the fence with ease.

2.3Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. no run, A confident shout for caught behind! There is a noise, but the finger stays down. Aiden Markram has a chat with the bowler and the keeper before going for the review. Skidding through, on a back of a length, on middle and leg. Seifert gets the front leg out of the way and has a hoick across the line. The ball goes under the blade and Quinton de Kock grabs it to his left before going up in an appeal. Flat line on UltraEdge when the ball is next to the bat and the noise was of the ball grazing the back leg on its way to the keeper. The third umpire Nitin Menon does not want to check LBW as it is too high. South Africa burn a review.

2.2Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. 1 run, The length is pulled back, across off, Allen dabs it behind point and gets to the other end.

2.1Marco Jansen to Finn Allen. SIX, SIX! Hit with real authority! Jansen angles it across but serves it a bit too full. Allen does not move his feet at all and just swings through the line cleanly. Tonks it back towards the sight screen for a biggie.

1.6Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen. 1 run, Hard length, outside off, Finn runs it down to deep third for a single.

1.5Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Bangs it short and outside off, Seifert gets on top of the bounce, and punches it uppishly, but between the cover and point fielders for a single. Maharaj at cover stops it on the bounce to his left. 

1.4Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen. 1 run, Full and on leg, Allen clips it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

1.3Kagiso Rabada to Finn Allen. FOUR, FOUR! Finn Allen is up and running! On a good length, in and around the off stump. Allen has a slight nibble at it but the outside edge does not go to hand. It goes well wide of the man at slip to his right and races away for a boundary.

1.2Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. 1 run, In the air...but out of reach! Tim Seifert is living dangerously. Rabada digs it in short, on off. Tim takes it on as he swivels to pull it away. It is skied towards long leg. The keeper, Quinton de Kock goes after it and calls Dewald Brevis running in from deep fine leg to get out of the way. The ball keeps going away from him and he flings himself towards the ball but does not lay even a hand on it. Single taken. Dewald Brevis was closer and in a good position to take that catch.

1.1Kagiso Rabada to Tim Seifert. no run, In the channel, on a length, Seifert plays out and in front of his body as he taps it to mid off.

A very profitable start for the Kiwis. Kagiso Rabada to share the attack from the opposite end.

0.6Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. 1 run, Nearly went to hand! Jansen hits the hard length, on off. Tim gets on his toes to ride the bounce and punch it away. The ball catches an outside edge and travels quickly to the man at short third, standing on the edge of the ring, but it drops short. They cross. 11 runs off the first over.

0.5Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Edged away! Lands it on a good length with an upright seam, on a good length. This does not come back in and leaves the right-hander on the angle. Seifert looks to clip it away on the leg side but is squared up due to the away angle. Gets an outside edge that goes past short third to his left for a boundary.

0.4Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. 2 runs, Fuller and swinging back into the pads. Tim waits on it and stays balanced in the crease. He flicks it neatly to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

0.3Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. no run, Across off, on a length, Seifert slams it on the up but picks out Aiden Markram at mid off.

0.2Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. FOUR, FOUR! Not exactly where Seifert intended, but it does the job. Full and a hint of inward shape, in line with the off stump. Tim pushes out in front, looking to drive it down the ground with a straight bat. Gets a thickish outside edge but it goes all along the ground and through covers for a boundary. Tim and New Zealand are on their way.

0.1Marco Jansen to Tim Seifert. no run, A bit of nip back into the right-hander, on a short of a length. Seifert presses half-forward to defend it with a straight bat. There is a bit of lift off the deck and Tim ekes out an inside edge on the leg side.