Winning six was best shot of my career: Elliott

Auckland, March 24: New Zealand’s hero of the cricket World Cup semifil Grant Elliott said on Tuesday that the winning six he struck off South Africa's Dale Steyn is the best shot he has played in his entire career. Chasing a revised target of 298 in 43 overs (Duckworth/Lewis), Elliott scored an unbeaten 84 off 73 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes, to help New Zealand achieve the target with four wickets and a ball to spare and thus beat South Africa and reach their maiden Cup fil here on Tuesday.

“I guess it is the best shot of my career but I really did feel the pressure. It was a great feeling to look at the team and look at the crowd and sort of savour that moment and realise that we're through to the fils," Elliot said at the post-match press conference.

He said the 40,000 home fans constantly cheering the Black Caps at Eden Park played a crucial role in the game.

“The crowd was amazing. When you're out there, someone said it was like a jungle when we played Australia. Fortutely, the Australian game when we played there, we got a taste of what it was like. It's an amazing crowd, amazing place to play cricket,” said the 36-year-old.

“The guys have played exceptiolly well during this World Cup. Our bowlers have set up things quite nicely but Brendon (McCullum) has been batting well. Now (Martin) Guptill, Ross (Taylor) are looking good. We've got a very solid team, solid line-up, and then our finishers with (Corey) Anderson and (Luke) Ronchi.” IANS