New Zealand vs South Africa: A Cricket World Cup Semifinal Between Underachievers

New Zealand and South Africa meet in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in Auckland on Tuesday, with both teams bidding to reach the final for the first time. (Live Score: New Zealand vs South Africa | New Zealand vs South Africa - Five Key Battles)

Co-hosts New Zealand advanced to their third successive semi-final, and seventh overall, with a 143-run victory over West Indies in Wellington on Saturday, courtesy of Martin Guptill's record 237 not out.

South Africa were also impressive in their nine-wicket destruction of Sri Lanka last Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground after they lost two matches in pool play. Neither side have made the World Cup final, with South Africa considered the great underachiever in the tournament

South Africa may have a slight advantage in recent head-to-head form, having taken apart New Zealand in two matches in Mt. Maunganui last October but that will have little bearing on Tuesday.

New Zealand's road to semis:

New Zealand have made the most of home conditions. They have played with aggression, attitude and cricketing arrogance to remain unbeaten in the World Cup so far. Under Brendon McCullum's fire-brand leadership and propelled by sparks of individual brilliance from most players in the side, the Kiwis have found wings and are ready for their biggest flight ever.

Cheered on by home fans, New Zealand have gone from strength to strength since their first match against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand outplay Sri Lanka

They may have lost the first toss of World Cup 2015 but New Zealand began their campaign on a high. Batting first in Christchurch, the team slammed 331 runs and then bowled out the Lankans for 233 - a 98-run triumph.

While Martin Guptill (49), Brendon McCullum (65) and Kane Williamson (57) laid the foundation, Corey Anderson struck terror with his 75 off 46. In the chase, pacers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne combined with veteran spinner Daniel Vettori to claim two wickets apiece.

New Zealand keep Scotland at bay

Bolstered by their opening win, the Kiwis were never expected to show any mercy towards minnows Scotland. At Dunedin however, the hosts did wobble just a bit but managed to secure a three-wicket win eventually.

Boult and Southee claimed two each while Vettori took three to bowl out Scotland for a paltry 142. What was meant to be an easy chase became tough when the batting floundered against the Scots. In the end, Williamson's 38 and Grant Elliott's 29 proved to be the clincher and the match finished by the 25th over.

New Zealand toy with England

If the Scottish batting against the Kiwis was woeful, the English were outrightly disastrous. Asked to bowl first, the Kiwis made mincemeat of Eoin Morgan's team and bowled them out for 123 at Wellington. Southee was the superstar of the match -- claiming seven for 33. In the chase, McCullum whacked 77 of 25 in yet another fiery batting display from him.

New Zealand edge out Australia

The most thrilling match of World Cup 2015 - so far - was when New Zealand took on rivals Australia. No one put much money on the Kiwis despite their strong performances thus far but bowlers once again showed just why they ought to be feared and revered by opposition batsmen.

If Southee shone against England, it was Boult who lit up the Auckland sky with his lightening quick bowling. He claimed five for 27 to help bowl out Australia for 151.

In the chase, New Zealand were cruising for most parts with McCullum hitting 50 off 24. In walked Mitchell Starc though and an implosion set off. He claimed six for 28 to skittle out the Kiwi batsmen but with one wicket in hand, the hosts managed to scrape past the finish line in the 24th over.

New Zealand tame Afghanistan

The Afghans were one of the most spirited 'minnows' of World Cup 2015. Even they could not stop New Zealand from cruising to a six-wicket win. Against the mighty bowling attack, the Afghans did fare better than the English and Aussies had. Batting first, their score of 186 though was never going to pose a massive threat. Vettori claimed four for 18 while Guptill hit 57 to help their team seal the match in 36.1 overs.

New Zealand see off Bangladesh

Bangladesh batsmen showed appreciable determination against the Kiwis in Hamilton but could not stage an upset of sorts. New Zealand put Bangladesh in to bat - perhaps expecting an early finish to the match. Instead, Mahmudullah slammed 128 to help his side score 288. Guptill returned the favour by hitting a century but he did lose McCullum and Williamson quite early into the chase. It was Taylor's vital 56 that helped the side to a win in the penultimate over of the match.

New Zealand beat West Indies in the quarters

Wellington witnessed one of the most destructive batting seen on a cricket field ever. Guptill was unstoppable against the West Indies and became the second-highest ODI scorer with a 163-ball 237. The mammoth score of 393 was always going to test the West Indies. Chris Gayle did threaten momentarily with a 33-ball 61 but his side eventually crashed by 143 runs with Boult's four breaking the back of the former world champions.

South Africa team in action during World Cup 2015.

© AFP

South Africa's road to semis:

South Africa Silence Zimbabwe

South Africa swear by their blistering batting and precision pace. Both combined brilliantly in their 63-run win against neighbours Zimbabwe.

Asked to bat first, South Africa lost early wickets but David Miller and JP Duminy slapped unbeaten tons in quick-time to post a formidable total of 339 in Hamilton.

Zimbabwe's reply was dogged. Hamilton Masakadza scored 80 off 74 but the mammoth target combined with Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander's torrid bowling helped Proteas register a confident win in their tournament opener.

India Master South Africa

South Africa's biggest blemish in the World Cup has been their abject surrender against defending champions India. Going by their strength, India opted to bat first and the innings was powered by Shikhar Dhawan's 137 at the top. Ajinkya Rahane gave a splendid performance in a supporting role and his 79 off 60 balls helped India post a target of 307.

Chasing the total under lights in Melbourne was never going to be easy but then, Proteas had the firepower. It was not meant to be though as the entire batting - barring Faf du Plessis who hit 55 - collapsed to concede the match by 130 runs.

South Africa defeat West Indies

The pain from the defeat to India was so bad that South Africa returned to the cricket field with a vengeance - West Indies bearing the brunt of the onslaught.

Opting to bat first, South Africa put on a humungous total of 408. It was an innings which saw Hashim Amla and de Plessis hitting confident fifties but the match was all about de Villiers who struck terror with a 66-ball 162*. The entire West Indies team could not beat de Villiers' score and folded for 151 with Imran Tahir's fifer showing that even spinners can rise Down Under.

South Africa Rout Ireland

In another 400-plus run fest for the South Africans, Ireland bowlers were left decimated. Batting first, the Proteas put on 411, courtesy Hashim Amla's 159 and du Plessis' 109. Riley Rossouw's 30-ball 61 was the final spark that ignited the Proteas fire.

Burnt and in visible pain, the Irish could only manage 210 in a feeble reply. It was Kyle Abbott (four wickets) and Morkel (three wickets) who showcased Proteas fast-bowling talents in the match.

South Africa stumble vs Pakistan

De Villiers decided he had had enough of batting first and chose to field against Pakistan. His bowlers backed him to the hilt and bowled out the opposition for 222, but the batsmen faltered. Eventually, Pakistan won by 29 runs in a rain-hit encounter.

Dale Steyn's 3/30 and De Villiers' fight with the bat (77 off 58 balls) was not enough to seal a victory over Misbah-ul-Haq's men.

South Africa storm UAE

In their last league match of the tournament, a clinical South African side once again clobbered opposition bowling.

Asked to bat first in what was seen as a surprising decision from the UAE captain, the Proteas hammered 341 runs in Wellington. There was no century in the innings but de Villiers' 99 proved to be the cornerstone.

UAE batsmen could hardly mount a challenge. While Morkel and Philander claimed two wickets each to break the opposition, de Villiers too chose to roll his arms over and walked away with two wickets and the man-of-the-match award.

South Africa dismiss Sri Lanka in quarters

Tahir's spin spewed venom all over Sri Lanka and South Africa cruised to a handsome 9-wicket win in their quarter-final match. Asked to field, South African bowlers maintained the pressure from the word go. Steyn, Abbott and Morkel claimed a wicket each while Duminy became the first South African to claim a World Cup hat-trick. The real star though was Tahir who helped his side bowl out the Lankans for 134.

In reply, de Kock slammed 78 off 57 to help Proteas storm into the semis. It was the final ODI match for Lankan veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene but the South Africans ensured that they were the men to watch out for.