Amid scenes of rare passion, New Zealand’s Grant Elliott probably played the innings of his life in the semi-finals of the ongoing 2015 World Cup against South Africa to take his team to the finals for the first time in the mega event. He played a magnificient unbeaten knock of 84 to finish a tense semi-final in New Zealand’s favour. Let us get across to the statistical highlights of this match:
–> 21 Wickets taken by Trent Boult in this World Cup, the most by any New Zealand bowler in a single World Cup. The previous record was held by Geoff Allott, when he took 20 wickets during the 1999 World Cup.
–> 482 Runs scored by AB de Villiers this World Cup, the second most by a South African batsman in a single World Cup, after Jacques Kallis (485 runs in 2007 World Cup).
–> 22 Balls played by New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum to get to his fifty. This was the third instance in this World Cup that McCullum reached his fifty in 22 balls or less.
–> McCullum also became the second batsman to score 3000-plus runs in ODIs in New Zealand. McCullum (3014) achieved this today and the only other player to have done this before is Nathan Astle (3448).
–> 299 Runs chased down by New Zealand, the most by any team in a successful chase in the knockout stage of a World Cup.
–> 0 Fifty-plus opening stands for South Africa in this World Cup.
–> 192 McCullum’s strike-rate in this World Cup, the highest by any batsman in a World Cup (min. 5 innings).