Auckland:  After Duckworth Lewis set 298 runs target (revised) in 43 overs, New Zealand were off to a flying start thanks to Brendon McCullum’s blitz at Eden Park in Auckland during the first semifinal against South Africa on Tuesday. However, the McCullum show was cut short by Morne Morkel and South Africa added two more wickets to keep New Zealand in check.

Here are the live updates.

After a sedate start, South Africa posted 281 runs on the board. The rain interruption made the game a 43 overs per side affair.

With Duckworth–Lewis method coming into play, New Zealand need 298 runs to win the semifinal and reach their first World Cup final.

The aggressive right-hander brought up his fifty in 22 balls as New Zealand dominated the South African bowling attack.

The run-rate dipped relatively after Imran Tahir bowled a maiden. While he could not get a wicket, he tested Guptill with guile and some sharp spin.

Then South Africa landed a big blow when Morne Morkel ended McCullum's blitz. The Kiwi captain decided to move down the wicket to hit Morkel over the infield. But he could not go past Dale Steyn, who was standing at mid-on, and got out in the eigth over.

Morne Morkel struck again when he dismissed Kane Williamson as the New Zealand batsman dragged one onto the stumps in the 9th over of the chase.

The pair of Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill then steadied the New Zealand innings, without compromising much on the run-rate. the duo scored 47 runs in 50 balls . But then a deja-vu of what happened during the game against West Indies took place; with a minor change of Guptill getting run-out.

Taylor pushed one towards point area and ran for a quick single but Amla made sure the slight confusion between the pair worked in South Africa's favour.

South Africa struck once again and dismissed Ross Taylor. The New Zealander tried to guide a Duminy-delivery towards the leg-side only ended giving an easy catch to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. New Zealand were 149/4 when Taylor got out.

Corey Anderson joined Grant Elliott in the middle. While the big left-hander hit a few lusty blows, the right-hander played his role sensibly to make sure that New Zealand maintained their run-rate. South Africa had a golden opportunity to break this partnership when a confusion between the New Zealand duo left Anderson stranded.

But of all the people, AB de Villiers messed up big time to prolong Corey's stay in the middle.

South Africa had to pay for letting off Anderson. The New Zealand all-roudner brough up his fifty and completed the 100-run partnership with Grant Elliott. For Elliott's credit, he did a fine job keeping his cool and accompanying Anderson as New Zealand fought hard.

However, their partnership was broken when Corey did not middle a Morne Morkel-delivery and Faf du Plessis held his nerve to take a fine catch.

Batting first, South Africa were edgy as Brendon McCullum attacked with three slips and a gully to put the Proteas under pressure. Quinton de Kock was beaten and in fact, edged one off Southee's bowling. Luckily for him, Ronchi could not hold onto a catch.

Amla too looked shaky as he top edged off Southee's bowling but the ball could not carry to the fine-leg fielder. However, Amla's luck ran out as he dragged one off Trent Boult's bowling in the fourth over.

Boult struck once again in the eigth over to end Quinton de Kock's struggle and his stay in the middle. The South African wicketkeeper danced down the track to put pressure on the Kiwi pacer but only managed to edge one to third-man where Tim Southee made no mistake holding onto an easy catch.

McCullum continued to attack with even more aggressive field placements to make sure South Africa did not get any breathing space.

But Faf du Plessis and Rossouw managed to keep New Zealand bowlers at bay as the duo played safe in order to steady the South African innings after two early blows. The pair did not take too many chances and made sure South Africa get a few runs of the board.

But just when they looked good to bat for a long time, Martin Guptill's stunning catch off Corey Anderson's bowling broke the Rossouw-du Plessis's 83-run partnership and gave New Zealand their third breakthrough.

But from thereon it was AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis show as the South African duo counterattacked New Zealand. Faf, South Africa's T20 skipper brought up a much-needed half-century, fighting some hostile bowling from the Kiwis.

AB de Villiers, who survived a close run-out chance and what could have been a stunning catch, upped the scoring rate with some big hits.

The South African skipper completed his fifty in just 32 balls as the Proteas looked settled to post a big total on the board.

Just when the pair were tormenting the Kiwi attack, rain interrupted play at Eden Park.

After losing approximately two hours of play, the play was resumed with reducing the game to a 43 overs/side affair.
 
South Africa lost Faf du Plessis in the first over after the play resumed following a rain interruption at Eden Park. While the on field umpire ruled du Plessis not out, Kiwis opted for a review and that ended Faf's stay in the middle.

However, David Miller straightaway hit the 'attack mode' as he smashed four boundaries in the 40th over bowled by Tim Southee. The  left-hander bulldozed New Zealand attack as he scored 49 off 18 balls to help South Africa post 281 runs on the board in 43 overs.

With Duckworth–Lewis method coming into play, New Zealand need 298 runs to win the semifinal and reach their first World Cup final.

Earlier, Matt Henry replaced injured Adam Milne for the Black Caps while Vernon Philander came in for Kyle Abbott for South Africa.

"There is a bit of cloud cover so hopefully it will swing for us a bit," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said while South Africa skipper AB de Villiers said he was happy with his decision to bat first.

"It looks a good wicket and we rank ourselves to do well against them," he said.

Conditions are ripe for swing bowling with moisture in the atmosphere following overnight rain and with showers forecast for later in the day.

The cricket World Cup semifinal between these two teams has more at stake than a first final for the winner. Both teams will hope to banish some unwanted baggage from the global showpiece that has dogged them for years.

The Proteas have long worn the tag of cricket's ultimate chokers for repeated failures in the tournament's knock-out rounds.

Their breakthrough quarterfinal win over Sri Lanka, a first win in a knockout match at the World Cup, will quickly be forgotten if defeated in Auckland.

Like their opponents, New Zealand have never been further than the penultimate hurdle and want to prove themselves heavyweights, rather than merely the team that punches above its weight.

The game will be New Zealand's seventh appearance in the semi-finals at the World Cup, and third in succession, while it is South Africa's fourth since their re-integration into global sporting competition following the end of the apartheid era.