Philander is withdrawn after his expensive opening over - not the best of returns for the seamer. On comes Morne Morkel, but he gets exactly the same treatment as the man he replaced with McCullum rocking back and pummelling his first ball over mid-on for a one-bounce four. McCullum then pulls another later in the over, doesn't catch it but still gets a boundary. Guptill then gets in on the action with a superbly-timed flick through mid-wicket for a third four from the over. These two are taking no prisoners and it is putting the pressure squarely on South Africa.

McCullum takes over from Guptill and hammers Steyn over mid-off with a back-foot swipe. It was just a fraction too short and wide and straight into one of the Kiwi skipper's strongest areas.

Guptill taps one to off and sets off before having to scurry back to make his ground from a throw from cover. If it hits he is out. It doesn't, though, and Guptill ends up getting his run from over-throws.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Highest total in a World Cup semi-final (either team) is 293-6 - West Indies v Pakistan, The Oval, 1979 .

"Highest total in a World Cup semi-final batting second is 264-6 by Pakistan v NZ at Auckland 1992 (won)."

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"When a player gets after you, as McCullum is trying to do, you can try to be funky with your bowling and try new things. But the ball hitting the outside of off stump, no matter what is happening in the match, will always be the most dangerous. New Zealand are off to a cracking start here."

Image source, AP

We all remember how McCullum made such light work of England's admittedly meagre total in the pool stages. Ominously for South Africa, he is hitting the ball just as cleanly here. He takes Philander for another four with a short pull down to deep backward square-leg.

McCullum's early innings assault continues as he is gifted four byes off Vernon Philander's first ball before pulling a six and then a four over and through mid-wicket respectively.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Some shape straight away. Dale Steyn was swinging it in his warm-up and his first ball to Guptill was an absolute peach."

Listen to Test Match Special commentary via the audio icon.

Martin Guptill's next innings after that 237 almost ends first ball from Dale Steyn as he gets a thick outside edge that loops the ball just past the man at backward point. The run from that ball brings McCullum to the striker's end and he takes a look at Steyn for a couple of balls before launching the third over the extra-cover boundary for six. Just a small insight into the destructive power of one of one-day cricket's most potent openers.

If you were not fortunate enough to witness Martin Guptill's World Cup record score of 237 not out as it happened, you missed out on one of the most entertaining and incredible innings of all time. It is also one of the best, according to New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

"Sublime, just sublime," was how Black Caps skipper McCullum described Guptill's effort. "I will never forget it. The innings we witnessed is probably one of the best we have seen in this format."

The innings is even more stunning for the fact that he amassed his score (which accounted for 60% of his side's 393 total) in just 163 balls, hitting 11 sixes and 24 fours. He alone scored 92 of the 153 New Zealand added in the last 10.

Jay: 298 (less than seven runs per over) isn't fair. New Zealand would be chasing close to 7.5 RPO for all of 50 overs had the innings not been curtailed.

Brian Simpson: It is going to be a great chase. Set up to be a belting climax to a great semi-final. South Africa to win now I think.

Thanks Mitch. Well, the rain has put New Zealand in the box-seat here. South Africa were accelerating nicely to a score well in advance of 300 before the heavens opened. Now, the mystical mathematics of Duckworth Lewis means the co-hosts are chasing 298 for victory. The players are back out already. Game on.

After that long rain delay, we only get 10 minutes between innings - so time to hand you back to Phil Dawkes to talk you through New Zealand's reply.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"New Zealand will think 298 is easily gettable. This ground is such a postage stamp and once players get going you can score 15 or 16 an over. So much depends on what start they get."

Listen to Test Match Special commentary via the audio icon.

New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult: "Credit to the South Africa batsman to push on to 280 plus. It will take some chasing but we feel we can do it. There were a few nerves there - that is what 45,000 people will do to you - but it is what it is. We are familiar with this ground and it is up to us now."

New Zealand must score 298 in 43 overs according to Duckworth-Lewis.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"With the way De Villiers was batting, with such authority, New Zealand could have been facing a much bigger total. We wait to see what it will be rounded up to, but some of the overs from the fifth bowler have gone because of the rain. So New Zealand have been a trifle fortunate."

De Villiers had 60 from 38 balls when it rained. He finished on 65 from 45, so only faced seven balls in the last five overs.

South Africa 281-5 (43 overs)

Batsmen: De Villiers 65*, Duminy 8*

Fall of wicket: 21-1 (Amla 10), 31-2 (De Kock 14), 114-3 (Rossouw 39), 217-4 (Du Plessis 82), 272-5 (Miller 49)

Bowling figures: Southee 9-1-55-0, Boult 9-0-53-2, Henry 8-2-40-0, Vettori 9-0-46-0, Williamson 1-0-5-0, Elliott 1-0-9-0, Anderson 6-0-72-3

South Africa won toss

Scorecard