The partnership that made the difference

After 24 overs, New Zealand were 88 for 2. At the same stage of their innings, South Africa were 108 for 2. The equation at that stage of the chase read: 114 runs required in 156 balls, eight wickets in hand, an asking rate of 4.38 runs per over, and two well-set and extremely classy batsmen at the crease. From there, it unravelled so swiftly for South Africa that even the team would be hard-pressed to explain how it happened.

Throughout their innings, even New Zealand didn't score their runs at a particularly brisk pace: for much of the time, the run-rate was less than four runs per over - in the 23 overs between the 13th and the 35th, they scored only 92. What they did well, though, was preserve their wickets and build a significant partnership. At the time it happened, commentators and pundits were questioning the slow approach of Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor; their 114-run stand took 27 overs, and of the 162 balls bowled during the partnership, 91 were dots.

South Africa's stats during the corresponding period of their innings were pretty similar in most respects - the number of runs scored, dot balls, singles, twos and fours - but the one big difference was the number of wickets lost. New Zealand's only wicket during that period was Taylor's dismissal, while South Africa lost five, from where there was no comeback. After 12 overs, South Africa were 11 runs in front of New Zealand's score at the same stage, and had lost the same number of wickets; after 33, South Africa were only two runs behind, but had lost three more wickets, and were to lose more pretty quickly thereafter.

Even when they got bowled out, after 43.2 overs, South Africa were only one run behind New Zealand's score at the corresponding stage, but they'd lost five more wickets. The difference was the one batting performance - and the one big partnership - which held New Zealand's innings together. Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers threatened to replicate Ryder and Taylor's effort, but Kallis got no more than 47 compared to Ryder's 83. With no pair building partnerships after de Villiers' departure, the target became an impossible one for South Africa.

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• This is New Zealand's sixth semi-final appearance in World Cups, which equals the record held by Australia and Pakistan. They've lost all five of their previous semi-finals.