After a nail biting semi-final the Black Caps have beaten South Africa and will play in the final of the Cricket World Cup for the first time ever.
Grant Elliot is being hailed a hero after hitting a 6 on the second to last ball, finishing on 84 off 73 balls leading his team to triumph by four wickets.
Elliot said in a press conference, “I really did feel the pressure. I felt the pressure I had two balls, Dan said we weren’t gonna run to the keeper again so I knew it was up to me. I had two balls to try and take us home. I knew that 4 runs would do it because a tie was as good as a win, so that was always in the back of my mind but we probably left it a little bit late, to be honest, and it was stressful towards the end there.”
The star of the game went on to take Man of the Match but he says the win was a triumph for all of New Zealand.
He says, “ for the fans and the 4 million people in New Zealand you know the supporters, that win is for them, the support has been overwhelming.”
The mammoth match drew 40 thousand fans, many who called in to work sick to be a part of the electric atmosphere at Eden Park. Many more across the country were glued to screens late into the night watching as the drama unfolded.
Focus for the Black Caps will now turn towards the upcoming final which will be held in Melbourne on Sunday.