2137: That's it from us - we're going to wrap it up here. Thanks for all your messages (especially from all you Kiwis and Pakistan fans all around the world), we'll be back on Monday with the Australia v New Zealand final. TMS are on air from 1315 BST, and I'll be in a little earlier to kick off the live text commentary. Well played New Zealand, commiserations to Pakistan and I hope to see you on Monday.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori (chosen as man of the match for his 41 and 3-43): "I think it all started with the way we bowled and the way we finished, apart from their last pair. We always thought 230 was a good chase. We haven't been a consistent side but in the last three games we've rallied together and done well. We were aiming for 60 off 60 but the powerplay helped and that over against Gul put us in charge. I was going to bat at six in the last game but we thought we were close to winning so we wanted to give Gareth Hopkins a go. But I think I'm at six now"

Pakistan captain Younus Khan: "We were at least 20 to 25 runs short - it was a good pitch to bat on, and I thought scoring something like 250 would have been good. If I'd taken that catch, things might have changed, but we've played good cricket here although we couldn't make it to the final"

2130: Before you go (and I'm going to hang on to bring you man of the match), just a reminder that Test Match Special will have commentary on Monday's final on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 LW and here on the BBC Sport website (for UK users only I'm afraid).

2125: Here's a thought - can someone send Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss a DVD of that New Zealand innings? Label it up as "How to pace a run chase", and you might also bring to their attention that New Zealand scored 55 in their batting powerplay, only losing a wicket off the last ball of it. So, it is possible to delay taking your powerplay until late, but not so late that your tail-enders are at the crease. Meanwhile, if you want to rate England's players for the tournament, have a look at our ratings on 606 and let us know what yours would be.

From Patrick 'Proud to be Beige', London, TMS inbox: "Instead of journeymen there to make up the numbers, how about a bit of appreciation for the Kiwis as master strategists who plotted this victory with all the nous of Churchill, Machiavelli and Steve Waugh combined?!"

2121: Well, that was tense at times, but an exciting semi-final. Vettori had apparently said before the game that he'd be happy to chase 300 on this wicket - Pakistan were a few runs short. Interesting choice for man of the match - you could make a case for Elliott, Vettori or Butler. Umar Akmal won't get it, but he played one of the innings of the day.

47.5 overs - NZ 234-5
Neil Broom joins Elliott with four needed from three overs. A single takes Elliott to 75. Shahid Afridi may be nicknamed "Boom Boom", but the Kiwis have "Broom Broom"! He guides his first ball for two to third man to level the scores. Broom is then hit on the pad, there's an appeal but it looks like it's going down the leg side. He then fails to connect again, but Akmal fumbles behind the stumps and they run a bye to win the match and set up an all-Antipodean final!

BBC Sport's Alison Mitchell on Twitter: "Pakistan fans are leaving... they think it's all over..."

47th over - WICKET - Vettori st K Akmal b Ajmal 41 - NZ 230-5
Naved is taken off after the punishment he got last over, so Ajmal will bowl the last powerplay over. Vettori sweeps for a single - they can win this in ones and twos now. Elliott advances down the pitch to the off-spinner and opens the face to carve a four through the covers. That's the century stand. A couple of singles take New Zealand to within five of victory, Elliott sweeps for a single and can Vettori win it with a four? Well, he goes for it... and is stumped! A consolation wicket for Pakistan, but you sense this game may be beyond even them.

46th over - NZ 222-4
Pakistan recall Umar Gul, who should bowl the 46th, 48th and 50th overs. New Zealand still have two more powerplay overs, and Elliott casually forces him through the covers for four. Then he goes for another big hit, mid-on is up in the ring and that's over him and through for four. What can he do next? He can whack Gul for six over mid-wicket and into the seats for six, that's what! After scoring 14 from three balls, he can afford to dab the fourth ball for a single. Some of the Pakistan fans are leaving the ground, they sense their team's chance has gone. Vettori rotates the strike, Elliott can't get the last ball away but with 16 from the over, Pakistan need 12 from 24 balls. But is there another twist to come?

From Simon Adams, TMS inbox: "Is there any other cricketer who does more for his team than Dan Vettori?"

45th over - NZ 206-4
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan replaces Ajmal, the first ball of his new spell is a no-ball and Vettori spanks it for four through cow corner! And it means a free hit next ball, although he can only smear the free-hit ball to long-on for a single. Naved then changes his pace well, and has Elliott swishing at thin air to a well-disguised slower ball. Then, it's another no-ball, and this really is poor from Naved - he wasn't even close, he was well over the line. Elliott carves two to long-off, and that's another free hit. The free hit ball is slow and wide, but Elliott pokes a single to point. Vettori steps back to aim a two through the covers, then he bunts a slower ball into the covers and they run one. Elliott dabs the last ball for a single, that's 14 from the over and the pendulum seems to have swung towards New Zealand, who need 28 from 30 balls.

44th over - NZ 192-4
Aamer to bowl out here, this is his last over. He has 1-25 from his first nine, with two maidens. Younus rotates his field, Vettori steers a single. Third man and fine leg are up for Elliott, Aamer has to bowl dead straight here. A single takes Elliott to 50, his third ODI half century (with one hundred), but Vettori looks on song, smashing the ball back past the bowler for four. Then Vettori steps across his stumps to the off side, tries to force Aamer to leg (as a leg-glance might bring him four with fine leg up) but he doesn't make contact. Vettori is moving all over the crease here, but clubs Aamer's last ball to cover for a single. The 17-year-old finishes with an impressive 1-32 from 10 overs, and the Black Caps need 42 from 36 balls.

BBC Sport's Alison Mitchell on Twitter: "Tense stuff this, NZ need 49 off 42 balls with 6 wickets in hand. Taken the powerplay. Crowd gripped"

43rd over - NZ 185-4
Right, New Zealand have taken the batting powerplay. A change of bowler, but same (off-spin) action - Saeed Ajmal will bowl, but can only have three fielders outside the circle. Elliott takes a fresh guard and then forces a single off his legs, and this is the stage of the innings where the field gets changed nearly every ball, particularly with a left-hand/right-hand combo. Vettori on-drives and steers a two past wide mid-on, then swipes a single to the same fielder. Elliott plants a single to extra cover, then Vettori finally unleashes his first four by planting his foot down the crease and hammering it through cow corner for four! A single ensures the Kiwi skipper keeps the strike - that was a much better over for them. 49 needed from 42 balls.

42nd over - NZ 175-4
Aamer continues for his ninth over, I'd have thought they'd have kept a couple of overs back for him to bowl in tandem with Gul in the powerplay? But Younus Khan is Pakistan's captain, not me, so the left-armer continues, and pings an aerial wide in over Vettori's head. Vettori's hit on the boot, the lbw appeals keep coming and Pakistan feel aggrieved but it hit the boot well outside the line of off stump. They run a leg bye, the Kiwi pair keep plugging away with singles but they're going to have to five it the long handle at some point - 59 needed from 48 balls.

41st over - NZ 170-4
Malik keeps the pressure on as the required rate approaches seven an over, although Elliott manages a single, and Vettori seems to manage a single off his legs any time Pakistan fire it down the leg side at him. 64 needed from 54 balls.

40th over - DROPPED CATCH - NZ 168-4
Mohammad Aamer returns with his left-arm seam, although there's no slip in. Elliott pokes the ball straight to captain Younus Khan at short cover, he gets both hands to it but somehow shells the catch! How did he drop that one? One of the simplest catches you'll see at international level. Elliott and Vettori carve a couple of singles, and you wonder how big a let-off that could be for the Kiwis.

39th over - NZ 165-4
No sign of the batting powerplay from New Zealand as Malik is milked for three singles. Kiwis need a big hit or two.

From another Kiwi, married to an English girl, living in Wales, TMS inbox: "Where is Lance Cairns when you need him?"

His son Chris Cairns would probably fancy this run chase too!

38th over - NZ 162-4
Afridi in for his last over, Vettori rotates the strike before Elliott lofts a four over the covers - incredibly, that's the first four since the 14th over of this innings, although we've had a couple of sixes since then. Three more singles, and Afridi takes his cap with figures of 1-41 from his 10 overs.

From Ahmad, USA, TMS inbox: "It will be tough for Pakistan to win unless they take some wickets"

37th over - NZ 154-4
Pakistan turn to their sixth bowler - it's former skipper Shoaib Malik for some right-arm off-spin. Vettori dabs a single, and Malik bowls a wide round Elliott's legs before the tall right-hander paddle-sweeps a single. Vettori slog-sweeps it in the air towards long leg... but once more, it's short of the fielder. They take a single.

36th over - NZ 150-4
Yet another huge lbw appeal from Afridi against Elliott, it looks high but Umpire Taufel signals leg byes as the ball squirms through they run one. Hawk-Eye thinks it might have just clipped the top of leg stump. After an exchange of singles, then there's another lbw shout against Vettori but the ball clearly pitched outside leg stump. Vettori runs through for the single and just makes his ground before the throw wings in towards the stumps - if Afridi had stood behind the stumps, he might have been able to run Vettori out rather than watching the ball fly past. 150 up for New Zealand - 84 needed off 84 balls.

35th over - NZ 146-4
Vettori dabs Gul for a single to point, Elliott steers a two off his legs and a single to long-on. This is still pretty tense.

From SpeakingCivilised on 606: "Nice move by Vettori promoting himself ahead of Broom and Franklin. Vettori is good player of spin and will perhaps take on the supporting role to Elliott who looks settled enough to attack."

34th over - NZ 142-4
Vettori is a past master at these quick singles, Elliott finds the gap through the covers and steers a two to cover sweeper Imran Nazir. Yet again, a cut shot flies just out of the grasp of a fielder and they run one. Vettori pushes one off his legs - and it's compulsory ball change time. By my calculations, this will be the fourth ball used in this innings (after the one that went out of shape, the one Taylor hit out of the ground and the one that has to be changed now according to ODI rules).

33rd over - NZ 137-4
Naved takes a rest and Umar Gul returns for his sixth over. He's mainly been bowling back-of-a-length today, although we can expect some of his deadly yorkers towards the end of the innings. Vettori guides the first ball of his over for a single, but he keeps it tight against Elliott for the next five balls.

From Grahame Bush (relaxing his life away in the Dominican Republic), TMS inbox: "So what is it with the 'Live Scores' (to the right) today? You are reporting on the over about two or three balls ahead of them every over. Are you prophesising each over or are they just a bit slow today?"

The live score is generated by an automatic stats feed, I'm a human typing at a computer. The relative speed/slowness of our computer system compared to the stats feed determines which of us appears to be quicker off the mark!

32nd over - NZ 136-4
Umpire Taufel indicates that we're one over away from another drinks break. Elliott steers Afridi for two, then delicately square-cuts for one. Vettori isn't moving too freely, as we noted earlier, but he punches the ball to long-off and jogs through for a single. Drinks break time - New Zealand need 98 from 18 overs at a rate of 5.44.

31st over - NZ 132-4
Elliott smears Naved for a single, Vettori is quickly off the mark with one off his legs. He averages 15.77 in ODIs, but has scored three fifties. Can he help Elliott along here? The big all-rounder steers a single to long-on, then another no-ball from Naved brings Vettori a free hit, which is guided past point for a single. Elliott clubs to mid-on and hustles through for a quick single. Interestingly, Pakistan were 128-4 at this stage, so there's not much in it.

30th over - NZ 126-4
That says a lot about New Zealand's confidence in Neil Broom's batting - despite being a specialist batsman, he's been shunted below captain Daniel Vettori in the order. Cap'n Dan defends his first ball.

29.5 overs - WICKET - Taylor b Afridi 38 - NZ 126-4
Taylor cover-drives Afridi, they run hard and come back for two. Another huge lbw appeal, this time it's Umpire Taufel who shakes his head. That was missing leg stump easily, though. And Taylor lofts another huge six over mid-wicket, that's out of the ground and onto Corlett Drive! (Thanks to Oliver Brett for his local knowledge). A great way to bring up the fifty stand, a new ball will be needed here, so Fourth Umpire Davis and his black briefcase of doom is required again. But the replacement ball ends Taylor's participation as Afridi bowls him!

29th over - NZ 118-3
Another animated lbw shout, this time from Naved, as it hits Elliott low on the pad, surely that must be close? Somehow Taylor survives, Naved looks disbelievingly at Umpire Gould. He loses his rag somewhat as New Zealand plunder three more singles. Taylor has 30, Elliott has 20.

28th over - NZ 115-3
Afridi continues for his fifth over, as we look to move closer and closer towards a tight finish. The Kiwis ride their luck as Elliott cuts and it bounces just in front of a fielder - not for the first time in this innings. Three singles and a wide added to the score - a real game of cat and mouse out there, it's very tense.

27th over - NZ 111-3
Interesting change of bowling - rather than keeping the spinners on, Pakistan have gone back to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who was expensive earlier. Taylor and Elliott manage a single apiece, then Taylor forces a two to long-on and a single to round off the over. And the latest example of buttock-related news from the England camp is that Paul Collingwood is to have a scan on a buttock muscle which he hurt while batting yesterday. He may join Stuart Broad in the buttock muscle injury department.

26th over - NZ 106-3
Just a single apiece from another rapid Afridi over.

From Guru, TMS inbox: "Just been thrown off the telly! Wonder how many 'Strictly Widowers' are around on TMS!"

You can read more from the official Strictly Come Dancing site here.

25th over - NZ 104-3
Elliott advances down the track to Ajmal, and can only punch a single to long-off. Just as I start to think about how the run-rate has been strangled by the introduction of spin, Taylor hoists the 85th six of the tournament over cow corner!

24th over - NZ 97-3
After an exchange of singles, Afridi fires one in at Elliott's toes and he does well to block the ball so it doesn't trickle onto his stumps. Elliott moves up to 16, overtaking his partner, but Pakistan are whipping through these overs with the spinners on.

23rd over - NZ 94-3
Elliott squeezes Ajmal for a single, the off-spinner then sends down a wide before Taylor carves a single to long-on. Elliott's on-drive brings one to the mid-wicket sweeper, and there's still plenty of noise inside the stadium, mainly generated by the Pakistan fans.

From Rev'd Mike Roberts, Huddersfield, TMS inbox: "If the umpires change the ball, like they did at the end of the 15th over, does the mandatory ball change still happen after Over 34?"

Yes, they do.

22nd over - NZ 90-3
Afridi gets a quicker ball to turn, whipping it past Elliott's outside edge. He's quickly through the over, just one Elliott single from it.

From Bruce Leonard, TMS inbox: "I just love all this - a Kiwi with an Aussie wife living in France - the international comments, the emotion over by over, the uncertainty of the result"

21st over - NZ 89-3
Taylor dabs Ajmal to third man, the Pakistan players are very chirpy in the field at the moment, encouraging each other. Elliott forces a single off his legs.

From Chris Spivey, TMS inbox: "As a Kiwi living in Boston, I naturally want our team to win, but second prize is always an Aussie drubbing!"

20th over - NZ 87-3
Shahid Afridi on to bowl his fast leg-breaks, Elliott nearly chops his first ball onto the stumps but the ball trickles away and he gets a single to fine leg. Taylor calmly steers one to the cover sweeper, Elliott pushes one off his legs, and another single takes Taylor to 12.

19th over - NZ 83-3
After Taylor nudges a leg bye, there's another huge lbw appeal from Ajmal as Elliott is trapped back on his stumps, is that out? Gould shakes his head, Hawk-Eye thinks it would have just missed the top of leg stump. A couple more singles from the over, and New Zealand are still just about keeping up with the rate - they need 151 from 31 overs (4.87 runs per over).

18th over - NZ 79-3
Elliott, in a sleeveless sweater, stands tall to hook a no-ball from Gul for four, and now has a free hit. But as Elliott steps away to the free hit ball, Gul fires one in yorker-length which Elliott swishes at and misses. He then prods a quick single, Taylor dives for the crease as Umar Akmal's throw hits the stumps, Gunner Gould goes to the third ump but Taylor is well in. Then Akmal hits the stumps again, throwing to the bowler's end as Taylor presses for a quick single. Taylor must think Akmal's got it in for him!

17th over - NZ 72-3
Big, big lbw shout from Ajmal against new batsman Grant Elliott, but that's a good decision as it hit him a fraction outside the line of off stump as he prodded forward. The South African-born all-rounder is off the mark with a single.

16.4 overs - WICKET - Redmond c & b Ajmal 31 - NZ 71-3
More good running from Redmond brings a single, Taylor prods one to third man, but then Redmond gets a leading edge and pops a simple return catch to the bowler.

From eirebilly on 606: "If these two are still together with 150 on the board then NZ have a very good chance of winning this"

16th over - NZ 69-2
The umpires have a long conference about something... it's the ball, which may have gone out of shape. Umpire "Gunner" Gould has what looks like a set of metal handcuffs, but they are in fact ball calipers - the ball should go through one circle, but not the other. Fourth umpire Steve Davis brings out a sinister black briefcase of replacement balls - a new white sphere is selected. Redmond and Taylor steer Gul for a couple of quick singles, while some careless keeping by Kamran Akmal lets them through for two byes.

From Imran, TMS inbox: "With how tense the game is, you would think it was the final. Both Pakistan and New Zealand have a chance now"

15th over - NZ 64-2
Our first sight of right-arm spin today as off-spinner Saeed Ajmal comes on. He can give himself a big pat on the back for his batting today... and nearly picks up a wicket in his first over as Redmond lifts the ball towards the cover boundary... and it falls just short of sweeper Imran Nazir. They run one. Captain Younus Khan isn't happy as he had just asked Nazir to come in a few yards. Taylor dabs a quick single but Redmond pinches the strike.

From Clinton, Michigan, TMS inbox: "Sitting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, following this match via live text. Big cricket fan, but now that South Africa is out, it's hard to decide who to support to win this match. Who's more likely to beat Australia?"

14th over - NZ 61-2
Redmond is gifted a single by a misfield, then Taylor tips-and-runs a single. Redmond, looking quite at ease for an ODI debutant, forces a four through fine leg before guiding a single off his legs.

13th over - NZ 54-2
Aamer in for his seventh over, Taylor looks happy to see him off - there's another big lbw appeal but it clearly pitched outside leg stump. Aamer collapses to the turf but everyone seems to be laughing at it.

12th over - NZ 54-2
Gul, who's usually Pakistan's specialist "death bowler" in Twenty20, sends down a wide, then Redmond scoops him just out of the reach of the man at third man for a first-bounce four.

11th over - NZ 49-2
Pakistan predictably take the fielding powerplay straight away - Redmond tickles a single to take his score to 16, Taylor is off the mark with a fluent four through the covers.

From Tariq Siddiqui, TMS inbox: "I am confident, Pakistan still be able to make it. The last Pakistani wicket had added almost the same runs as New Zealand's openers had added in the same number of overs at cost of one wicket!"

10th over - NZ 44-2
Ross Taylor comes in with New Zealand needing to rebuild. Redmond steers a single, there are two slips in for Taylor who is resolute in defence.

9.1 overs - WICKET - Guptill c Naved-ul-Hasan b Gul 11 - NZ 43-2
Change of bowling, Umar Gul runs in and Guptill lifts his first ball to mid-on where Naved, who has just been removed from the attack, gleefully takes the catch!

9th over - NZ 43-1
Redmond steers Aamer for his third four, then the teenage left-armer has a loud lbw appeal, amplified by the Pakistan fans in the crowd... but the batsman clearly got a large inside edge onto his pads, and it may also have pitched outside leg stump. Mind you, Umar Akmal was given out lbw when he got a huge inside edge...

8th over - NZ 39-1
Guptill eyes Naved up and hoists him just over the mid-wicket boundary for six, before getting down on one knee and punching a slower ball through point for four.

7th over - NZ 29-1
Aamer keeps it pretty tight against Redmond, apart from a wide.

6th over - NZ 28-1
Guptill is off the mark with a single, then Redmond (making his ODI debut after seven Tests and three Twenty20 internationals) frees his arms to whack Naved through the covers for four. A single takes him to double figures.

5th over - NZ 22-1
Martin Guptill is the new batsman, he did very well opening the innings with McCullum against England the other day, but the effervescent Aamer, fringe in his eyes, completes a wicket maiden.

4.3 overs - WICKET - McCullum c Afridi b Aamer 17 - NZ 22-1
McCullum goes for another big hit, but skies a slower ball into the air and Shahid Afridi perfectly judges the catch in the covers.

4th over - NZ 22-0
McCullum aims a quick single to mid-off, Younus Khan's throw is quick but Redmond is quickly through for the single. Redmond, son of former NZ opener Rodney Redmond, guides a single, while McCullum forces one through extra cover to take his score to 17.

3rd over - NZ 19-0
Well, if New Zealand continue to bat at approximately twice the required run-rate, we could be in for an early finish. McCullum starts the over with a single, but that's much tighter from Aamer as Redmond sees off the rest of the over.

From Ross Smith, TMS inbox: "It's for the Kiwis to win. Does Aussies' steamroller effort against England put our win in a different perspective? An interesting afternoon here in Niagara Falls- west side, i.e. Canada"

2nd over - NZ 18-0
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to share the new ball, and McCullum is clearly a man in a hurry as he forces Naved's first ball for two before pulling him for four through mid-wicket. A single brings Redmond on strike, he's off the mark with a delicate four off his legs.

1st over - NZ 7-0
How will McCullum begin for New Zealand? He'll hoist the second ball of the innings for six over mid-wicket, that's what he'll do! That's his sixth maximum of the tournament, two behind the current leader - England's Paul Collingwood, who has eight. McCullum adds a single.

1744: Here we go - Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond beginning New Zealand's reply against Mohammad Aamer, who's fresh from his batting heroics.

From Su-Yang Klotz, TMS inbox: "That could be a vital last wicket stand by Aamer and Ajmal. The Pakistanis probably have the best bowling attack in the world, so NZ will have to bat very well if they are to reach what looks like a mediocre total"

1717: Right, New Zealand's slow over-rate will not only likely land them a fine, but it means another truncated interval for those of us covering the game. I'm going to dash for a sandwich, but will be back before New Zealand resume at 1745 BST. Put your feet up, manually refresh the page to see the Kiwi target appear.

50th over - Pkn 233-9
Last over, Mills to bowl at Ajmal, the first ball is wide in at least two dimension (height and width) - Ajmal had no hope of hitting that, but Umpire "Gunner" Gould strangely doesn't signal it as wide. Ajmal swings and misses twice, but then tries an unorthodox "Dilscoop" over the keeper's head and it sails away for four! The fifth ball is clubbed for a single to mid-off, and Aamer digs the last ball out of the blockhole for one. Pakistan finish on 233, the last pair added 35 - take a bow, Mohammad Aamer (19 off 20 balls) and Saeed Ajmal (14 off 17). I salute the pair of you - you could have made all the difference in this game.

49th over - Pkn 227-9
Bond in for his last over, Ajmal pushes the ball straight to mid-on and goes for the single, Redmond can aim for either end but misses both and the run is completed. Aamer hoists a single to third man, Ajmal forces one off his legs and Butler at long leg appears to touch the rope as he dives to stop the ball, so that's four. Ajmal smears two more, plus a single off the last ball - what's going on here? This last pair are incredible!

48th over - Pkn 218-9
Mills back into the attack, New Zealand will hope not to leak too many runs to the last pair. Ajmal manages a single, Aamer backs away from a bouncer and Pakistan think that should be a wide. It was about head height, but straight as he backed away to leg. The umpires confer, Vettori has a word and nothing is signalled. But Aamer responds with another off-driven four - the 17-year-old is hitting the ball as cleanly as anyone.

From Luke Wilkins, TMS inbox: "Go The Butler! I had the pleasure of playing with him last year at the Mighty Harborne CC in Brum, he can bat a bit as well! Also an amazing poker player, but I feel I should mention that I did take more wickets than him as his opening bowling partner! Wilkins for England?"

47th over - Pkn 213-9
(Should have mentioned, that's 4-44 for Butler). Shane Bond will hope to knock over the last pair, but the left-handed Aamer square-cuts well for four before crashing another four through the covers! What's he doing batting at 10 with shots like that?! Bond sends down a legside wide, then Aamer pulls another four through mid-wicket! The Pakistan fans go wild! Maybe this is why Pakistan delayed taking their batting powerplay until number 10 was at the crease.

46th over - Pkn 200-9
Butler scents a fifth wicket here as he begins his last over with the last pair together - Ajmal rotates the strike with a leg bye, then Aamer tries to force one off his pads, the ball flies to fine leg and they run a quick single, a good throw will see Ajmal run out at the striker's end but the throw is wide.

45th over - Pkn 198-9
Last man for Pakistan is Saeed Ajmal - and by the look of his statistics, bats number 11 on merit. Aamer swings and misses at Vettori as McCullum whips the bails off, but four dot balls means Vettori finishes with 3-43 from his 10 overs.

From Sir_Blitzo on 606: "New Zealand have done very well here. Good bowling, good fielding all around, and they have a wonderful captain. Looks like the boy Umar Akmal might have a bright future. Let's hope so."

44.2 overs - WICKET - Naved-ul-Hasan c Guptill b Vettori 8 - Pkn 198-9
Pakistan have been taking lessons from England as to how to waste their batting powerplay - despite having two well-set batsmen in a big partnership, they've delayed taking it until now, when they have tail-enders in. I say "waste" - Naved spanks the first ball of the powerplay flat over the extra cover fence for six! I take it all back! But he tries another aggressive shot and holes out to wide mid-on.

44th over - Pkn 192-8
New Zealand could do themselves a favour here by bowling Pakistan out, as they may struggle to get six overs in before 1700 BST and are facing an over-rate fine. Mohammad Aamer, a precocious 17-year-old left-arm seamer who burst onto the scene at the World Twenty20, is the new batsman. Butler has 4-43 from nine overs, his career-best ODI figures.

43.3 overs - WICKET - Gul c Broom b Butler 6 - Pkn 192-8
Butler seems to have caused Pakistan all sorts of problems here, Gul becomes the umpteenth Pakistan batsman to swing and miss against him before he gets an edge over the solitary slip for four. Gul then goes for another big one but it skies into the air and the tumbling Neil Broom catches it at cover. Four wickets for The Butler!

43rd over - Pkn 188-7
Vettori will try to turn the screw on Pakistan here - and his penultimate over yields just one single to Gul.

From Dialagranny, Melbourne, TMS inbox: "I hate to sound like a pompous, overly confident Aussie, but although I think we'd have a better chance against Pakistan, I think I would prefer both the quality of the final against NZ as well as the prospect (however slim) of losing to the Kiwis"

42nd over - Pkn 187-7
Umar Gul is Pakistan's number nine, his first ball is a wide, but he forces a single off his legs. Naved cover-drives and they scamper back for two, but he nearly plays the last ball of the over onto his stumps.

41.2 overs - WICKET - Afridi c McCullum b Butler 4 - Pkn 183-7
Ian Butler returns to the attack - and with tail-enders at the other end, Afridi goes for a big hit straight away and gets two as he hoists one towards cow corner. But Butler picks up a third wicket as Afridi then feathers an edge behind to McCullum - a huge scalp.

41st over - Pkn 181-6
New batsman is Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, lately of Sussex and Yorkshire (as well as the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League), and he survives his first ball.

40.5 overs - WICKET - U Akmal lbw b Vettori 55 - Pkn 181-6
Still no batting powerplay, but Vettori returns to the attack for his eighth over. Afridi is off the mark with a single from his first ball, Akmal clubs another, Afridi turns another single off his toes. Akmal gives it the charge and blasts four through extra cover, but he looks in pain too - has he pulled a back muscle? But he falls to the very next ball as Vettori spears one in straight, there's a huge appeal for lbw and Umpire Taufel raises his finger but replays show a thin inside edge onto Akmal's pads as he was trying to sweep. No wonder Akmal looks irked as he walks off.

40th over - Pkn 174-5
Great excitement from the Pakistan fans at the Wanderers as Shahid "Boom Boom" Afridi walks to the crease. He's got 11 overs to impose himself on the game, but has to look on as the recalled Franklin bowls to Akmal, who opens the face again to dink a well-run two to third man. With respect to Yousuf, Afridi is a bit quicker between the wickets. An exquisite cover-driven four takes Akmal to 48, that's just out of the reach of Vettori at long-off. The Kiwi skipper is apparently nursing an injury (back? hamstring?) so won't be diving around anywhere. Two more bring up Akmal's second ODI half century - he sinks to his knees in celebration, but he's got to see his side through the last 10 overs here.

39th over - WICKET - Yousuf b Mills 45 - Pkn 166-5
Yousuf forces Mills off his legs for one, Akmal adds another. You sense Pakistan still have another gear to step up into - and Yousuf brilliantly on-drives for four as if to indicate that there is more to come from them. Mills gets one to ping through between bat and pad that just misses the stumps, how did that not hit? But then it's all over for the veteran when he tries to force Mills away off the back foot and gets an inside edge onto his stumps.

38th over - Pkn 160-4
Bond has a man in at third slip in for Yousuf, who moves to orthodox first slip for Akmal as the pair exchange singles. But another slower ball is lifted over that slip for four by Yousuf. A single takes him to 40, then Akmal delicately clips Bond off his legs and they run two - nine from the over.

From MadNZfan, TMS inbox: "Everyone always under rates the quality of the Black Caps and if we keep our composure then we have a real chance of making the final! And then winning it!"

37th over - Pkn 151-4
Mills replaces Elliott, Yousuf carves a two and a single. A single from Akmal brings up the 150 for Pakistan, while Yousuf nicks the strike - this stand is now worth 65. But Vettori has plenty of options as we've 13 overs to go and his five front-line bowlers have all bowled seven overs apiece.

36th over - Pkn 146-4
A solitary New Zealand flag tries to compete with a whole group of Pakistan flags -and this is an interesting bowling change from the Black Caps as Shane Bond returns. he has four overs left, a couple of which may be saved for the batting powerplay. At first, Akmal is swinging and missing just as he did against Butler, but when Bond tries a slower ball, Akmal opens the face to tickle a four through the vacant slip cordon, before guiding a single to fine leg. Yousuf goes for the hook, it's a first-bounce single to the man in the deep.

35th over - Pkn 140-4
Elliott trots through for another over, Yousuf and Akmal manage just four singles from the South African-born all-rounder.

34th over - Pkn 136-4
Akmal continues to play and miss against Butler, swishing a couple of times before guiding a single to third man when he finally connects. Yousuf square-cuts, Neil Broom nearly stops it at backward point but they run one. Then Akmal backs away to leg and Butler is rather unlucky to be punished with a wide. That's the fifty stand - time for the compulsory ball change.

From Imran from London, TMS inbox: "We need Yousuf to hang in there and play a long innings and another matchwinning performance from Boom Boom Afridi - what a man to have waiting in the wings! Come on Pakistan"

33rd over - Pkn 133-4
After that punishment Vettori took in the last over, he removes himself from the attack and turns to medium-pacer Grant Elliott, who picked up four wickets against England. As he only made his international debut last year, I wouldn't have thought Pakistan will be too familiar with his bowling seeing as they haven't played the Kiwis for so long. Akmal and Yousuf run a couple of quick singles and a jogged one down the leg side off the last ball - and that's the cue for a drinks break.

32nd over - Pkn 130-4
Butler, who picked up two wickets earlier, replaces Mills as New Zealand look to put the brakes on this burgeoning partnership between the old veteran and the promising teenager. Yousuf steers a single, Akmal swipes and misses at a wideish one before dabbing a single to third man. A good over from Butler, just two singles, and strangely Pakistan have found him more difficult to score off than Mills.

From Amir from Johannesburg, TMS inbox: "To make any fighting total, Umar and Yousuf have to bat at least till the 42nd over because after them Afridi is the only batsman who can bat. Any score between 260 and 280 will give Pakistan a good chance"

31st over - Pkn 128-4
So, if you subscribe to the "double the score after 30 overs to get a predicted total" theory, can Pakistan really hope to score 236? I think they'd take that if you offered it to them now. Do you agree? Akmal, who has been dubbed "the future of Pakistan's batting" by my colleague Oliver Brett, shows excellent placement against Vettori, threading two fours through point before guiding a single past mid-wicket. The veteran Yousuf keeps the score ticking with a jogged single - that's rather dented Vettori's figures.

From Mazhar Hussain, TMS inbox: "A long way to go but are we looking at an upset here, this one is going down to the wire!"

30th over - Pkn 118-4
After a single takes Yousuf to 23, Aknal goes for a big hit, cross-batted like a baseball player, but gets two runs in the direction of cow corner. He then has to duck a bouncer from Mills, but pushes a single off the next ball. He has 17. Wonder if they're thinking about when to take the batting powerplay - will they wait till the tail-enders are in, like England?

From alfieNZ on 606: "Excellent positional fielding from Vettori. He's really studied this Pakistani outfit and great to see him attacking with a slip on a batter's paradise, it's paid off. He's learnt well off the master Fleming"

29th over - Pkn 114-4
Vettori continues to land the ball on a hankie (or a sixpence, if you prefer) as Yousuf and Akmal keep pushing the singles. Five of 'em, as it happens.

28th over - Pkn 109-4
Mills returns in place of Franklin at the Golf Course End, while a TV graphic shows the spread of where Vettori has bowled - you could throw a handkerchief over the area he's pitched every ball into. Akmal breaks the deadlock with a single, Yousuf steers one through point.

27th over - Pkn 107-4
More hesitation between the wickets from Yousuf, he's being kept on his toes by some alert Kiwi fielding. Vettori sends down the second maiden over of his spell, he has 1-14 from five.

26th over - Pkn 107-4
Having scored 13 runs in ones and twos, Yousuf blasts Franklin for four through the covers before forcing a single through mid-wicket. Franklin has 0-25 from seven overs.

25th over - Pkn 102-4
Akmal delicately paddle-sweeps Vettori and they run two, before the teenager is deceived by Vettori's quicker ball. But we get the rare sight of a boundary - the first since the 14th over - as Akmal sweeps for four, and then he slightly fortuitously swipes just over the man at short third man, and that's four more. The hundred's up for Pakistan.

From Josh, India, TMS inbox: "Re: Ammar [20th over] - E-mailer's curse, Younus has gone!"

24th over - Pkn 92-4
Gloucestershire's Franklin is into his sixth over, Akmal junior is looking tentative here as he waits to get off the mark, which he finally does with a single off the last ball.

From roadrunner on 606: "Pakistan just needs to get to 200-220 because if they do this match is going to be really close. Pakistan is the most dangerous team when down and often wins from really improbable situations."

23rd over - Pkn 91-4
It's a battle of guile between Vettori and Yousuf, but the bowler prevails as he sends down a maiden over.

22nd over - Pkn 91-4
The bearded Yousuf steers Franklin for a couple of well-judged twos and a single - the 35-year-old is a veteran of 275 ODIs before today, averaging a shade under 43. But Pakistan will need all his experience if they are to dig themselves out and post any kind of competitive total on what looks to be a belter of a pitch.

21st over - Pkn 86-4
New batsman is Umar Akmal, teenage younger brother of opener/keeper Kamran Akmal. With Pakistan needing to rebuild rather than blast away, he's in at six ahead of Shahid Afridi, and defends his first ball.

20.5 overs - WICKET - Younus c Taylor b Vettori 15 - Pkn 86-4
Two more singles, but then Younus scoops another catch into the hands of Ross Taylor, who's pouched three so far, at short extra cover. This is looking a good toss to lose for Mr Vettori.

From Ammar, TMS inbox: "There is no need to worry with Younus and Yousuf at the helm. These two are the perfect batsmen to have in such a scenario. They'll keep the runs ticking over until the time is right to blast away"

20th over - Pkn 84-3
Sorry Pakistan fans, you were not really 82-5 after that last over, this auto-refreshing text is decidedly unforgiving on the occasional typo. Yousuf straight-drives Franklin for a single, Younus guides the last ball off his pads for one.

19th over - Pkn 82-3
It's time for Cap'n Dan! Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori comes on to bowl his miserly slow left-arm spin, Younus steers a single through the covers, while his partner Yousuf's pads look rather scruffy, like a green bench where the paint's been chipped off in places. He manages a single off the last ball.

18th over - Pkn 80-3
Yousuf tries to work a single off his legs, Martin Guptill dives at square leg and aims at the stumps, Yousuf is stuck in no-man's-land but the throw is well wide when a direct hit would have run him out by yards. Just a couple of singles from Franklin's over.

17th over - Pkn 78-3
New Zealand look firmly on top here as Younus and Yousuf keep carefully pushing the singles against Butler. Neither of this pair are out-and-out sloggers, but they'll be fairly pleased with four singles from the over.

From Waqar Ahmed, TMS inbox: "Pakistan need to steady the ship here. Anything around 270-280+ would be a great total. Pakistan are good at defending totals and with the bowling attack we have I fully expect Pakistan to go and win"

16th over - Pkn 74-3
Younus guides Franklin off his legs for a single, Yousuf adds another with a delicate dab past slip. Younus is looking good between the wickets (Pakistan fans will hope that's not a commentator's curse) and another single takes him to nine. But that's tight bowling from Franklin.

15th over - Pkn 71-3
New batsman Mohammad Yousuf is off the mark with a single, Younus adds another but Pakistan have a big rebuilding job on their hands here.

14.2 overs - WICKET - K Akmal c Redmond b Butler 24 - Pkn 69-3
Younus pushes Butler for a single, Kamran goes aerial and is brilliantly held by the diving Aaron Redmond running in from the extra cover boundary! That's an excellent catch.

14th over - Pkn 68-2
New Zealand vary their angle of attack as Bond takes a rest and left-arm seamer James Franklin comes on. He has a slip in for Akmal, who helps a single down to fine leg. A no-ball gives Pakistan another free hit, and skipper Younus helps himself by lashing a first-bounce four over mid-off. A single means that's seven off the over.

From Alan from Liverpool, TMS inbox: "To Torres' right peg [7th over] - if New Zealand score 240 that will probably be enough as Pakistan have given over 30 runs in extras in nearly every game in this tournament. Come on the Kiwis"

13th over - Pkn 61-2
New batsman is captain Younus Khan - he's apparently not 100% fit, but defends his first ball.

12.5 overs - WICKET - Malik c Taylor b Butler 2 - Pkn 61-2
Butler gets one to jag back in and sail between Akmal's bat and pad. Akmal manages a single, then Butler finds Malik's outside edge and Taylor dives well to take his second catch of the innings. Big wicket for New Zealand.

12th over - Pkn 60-1
Bond to continue for his sixth over, Akmal stands all to carve a wideish delivery past backward point and it scoots away for four. This outfield at the Wanderers is quicker than Usain Bolt, though it would be difficult to arrange some sort of a race to prove this. A single takes Akmal to 22, two more round off the over. Bond has 1-17 from six overs.

11th over - Pkn 53-1
New Zealand take the fielding powerplay straight away - Ian Butler must be as pleased as anyone to see the back of Nazir, having been spanked for three boundaries in his previous over. Akmal nudges a single, Malik gets off the mark with another but Akmal finds the gap well with a pull for four through mid-wicket, bringing up Pakistan's fifty. He then blasts a single through the covers, he wants two but Malik sends him back.

10th over - Pkn 46-1
Slight change to the Pakistan order as the in-form Shoaib Malik is elevated to number three ahead of skipper Younus Khan. He sees off the over.

9.4 overs - WICKET - Nazir c Taylor b Bond 28 - Pkn 46-1
Nazir works Bond for a single, Akmal tickles a single to third man and then Bond bowls a no-ball, which is the cue for a bizarre mix-up between the wickets that nearly results in a run-out. And a no-ball brings a free hit - Nazir takes a massive swing but misses. Bond then pings in a fiery bouncer, Nazir pokes it into the air and it's an easy catch for Ross Taylor at slip.

From Imran Patel, Blackburn, TMS inbox: "Being a dedicated Indian supporter I'm finding myself in the Pakistan supporters' camp today. Hope they get through to the final! Pakistan Zindabad!"

9th over - Pkn 43-0
New Zealand's first bowling change as Mills is replaced by fellow right-arm seamer Ian Butler. Meanwhile, Akmal looks to have taken a nasty blow on his right index finger - the Pakistan physio comes out with the "magic spray", but it must be worrying when your wicketkeeper has a finger injury. Butler's first ball is short and wide, and Nazir powerfully pulls him for four. The Pakistan fans are on their feet again when Nazir executes a superbly-timed cover drive and the fast outfield does the rest for him. He then hoists Butler out towards square leg, there's a man out there... but it's just wide of him and through for a first-bounce four. Nazir keeps the strike with a single, after hitting 13 from Butler's first over.

8th over - Pkn 30-0
After a single from Akmal, a superb stop by the flying Neil Broom at backward point restricts Nazir to a single when it looked four all the way.

From J Lindesay, TMS inbox: "Come on NZ, we can do it this time and it's great to have Bond back"

7th over - Pkn 28-0
Mills has a leg gully as well as a slip in for Akmal - remember, in the first 10 overs, you have to have two stationary close catchers. The Pakistan keeper forces a single to square leg, he and Nazir rotate the strike with a couple of singles and Nazir finishes the over with a lofted drive for four.

From torres' right peg on 606: "I think that New Zealand's injury-hit batting can reach, at best, just 240. If Pakistan get anything above that, they've as good as won"

6th over - Pkn 21-0
Akmal swipes Bond for a single, Nazir finds the boundary for the first time since the opening over with the first loose ball of Bond's spell, which is clubbed through wide mid-on for four.

From Sadie, Kingston, TMS inbox: "Reckon the locusts will make a comeback today Mitch?"

If you mean the flying ants that held up play at Centurion yesterday, I'm not sure. Looks very sunny out there at the moment.

5th over - Pkn 16-0
Akmal finds the gap through the covers, but a superb chase, dive and stop by Martin Guptill turns four runs into three. When Mills strays with his line again, Nazir helps one down to fine leg for four leg byes.

4th over - Pkn 9-0
Bond keeps Nazir tied down with his inswing, the Kiwi paceman is right on the money here. An expansive square drive goes straight to a fielder as Bond completes a maiden over, and a surprising stat from the Brettmeister General is that these sides have not met in an ODI since the last Champions Trophy, nearly three years ago - and haven't met in a Test since 2003.

3rd over - Pkn 9-0
Plenty of flag-waving Pakistan fans are watching this game at the Wanderers, Mills beats Akmal with a beauty. New Zealand's fielders are on their toes, trying to frustrate Pakistan's batsmen who both like to get on with it early on. Akmal heaves across the line but it brings him two through mid-wicket, Mills strays with another wide.

From Navead Yousaf, TMS inbox: "Pakistan deserve to reach the final. Bowling needs to be better today"

2nd over - Pkn 6-0
Shane Bond is New Zealand's fastest bowler, but apparently always likes to take the second over, rather than the first. Kamran Akmal nudges a single to third man, but Bond is getting some inswing here in the early stages. Nazir tries to hit him down the ground, it's in the air towards mid-off... but it reaches him on the second bounce. Tight over.

From Tony Jackson, a wet but happy Australian in Glasgow, TMS inbox: "I didn't get to see the game yesterday, was England as bad as the score card suggests, or were Punter and Watson just in unstoppable form? I remember in his younger days Punter used to roll the arm over a bit, should Australia just play Ponting and Watson in the final and save the rest of the team for the next tour?"

1st over - Pkn 5-0
Nazir has a look at Mills for a couple of deliveries, then lifts him over cover for four to get his side going. Umpire Taufel spreads his arms to signal a legside wide.

1329: Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal opening up, Kyle Mills takes the first over.

1326: Two very jolly anthems are played. The lady singing New Zealand's anthem seems to have microphone problems, and only really joins in for the second half. Shane Bond and Ross Taylor are quite lusty singers, though.

From rugger-tyke on 606: "I think Pakistan should execute the same plan as against India, but the openers should be a little more solid today."

1325: We're standing by for the anthems. By the way, there's no TMS commentary today I'm afraid, but Simon Mann, Alison Mitchell and the team will be back in action for Monday's final.

From Maj, TMS inbox: "I feel a Pakistan-Australia final coming along. Pakistan have a good record of beating NZ in cup semi-finals"

1315: Here are the teams. Pakistan have reverted to the same team that beat India, with opener Imran Nazir recalled.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (wk), Aaron Redmond, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Daniel Vettori (capt), James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, Shane Bond.

Pakistan: Kamran Akmal (wk), Imran Nazir, Younus Khan (capt), Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal.

Umpires are England's Ian Gould and Australia's Simon Taufel - the other umps are both Aussies, Daryl Harper on TV replays and Steve Davis wielding the briefcase of replacement balls. Match referee is Javagal Srinath of India, Oliver Brett's alongside me once more on match-report duties while we're being overseen today by our "gaffer" Dan Warren, who's making a guest appearance from his usual duties overseeing live football.

1312: If you want to get in touch today, make sure you have "CRICKET" as the first word if you're texting on 81111 (as we share the text number with football, F1, Radio 1 and others). Alternatively, e-mail us at [email protected] (with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject line - and I'll look upon you very kindly if you spell it right), or get involved with the debate on 606.

1305: Toss news - Pakistan have won the toss and will bat first. We haven't got the full teams yet - New Zealand have struggled with injuries but bring in batsman Aaron Redmond (one of three injury replacements called up so far) for reserve keeper Gareth Hopkins, while teenage left-arm seamer Mohammad Aamer returns for Pakistan, who must decide on the make-up of their seam attack as they have several options.

From ZG1 on 606: "I think once NZ has their nose in front, they cannot be dislodged. Dan Vettori is a thinking cricketer, and he can plan and play out well"

1300: Afternoon, everyone. With England crashing out yesterday, today we focus on New Zealand v Pakistan for the right to join Australia in the final.