WC 2015: New Zealand 2nd Southern Hemisphere country to make WC finals

Sydney, March 25: New Zealand became the second country from the Southern Hemisphere to reach the final of the cricket World Cup after Australia. On Tuesday, they tamed a spirited South Africa by 4 wickets at Eden Park in Auckland to make their maiden World Cup semifinal in their seventh attempt.

NZ, the team to play in 1st & final match of WC 2015; 10 facts about India-Aus SF" title="NZ beat SA in a thriller in SF; NZ, the team to play in 1st & final match of WC 2015; 10 facts about India-Aus SF" />NZ beat SA in a thriller in SF; NZ, the team to play in 1st & final match of WC 2015; 10 facts about India-Aus SF

So far, Australia have been the only side from the Southern Hemisphere to make the final of the cricket World Cup. They reached the finals in 1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 and bagged the trophy four times (except 1975 and 1996).

New Zealand had made the semi-finals six times before their win over South Africa this time but could not break the hurdle even once.

Among other countries from the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa have made the semi-finals four times but lost each one of them (including the dramatic semifinal of the 1999 edition). Zimbabwe and Namibia have never made the semifinals of the cricket World Cup. Another African country Kenya have made the semifinals once (they lost to India in 2003) but this country is not entirely located in either of the two hemispheres.

Among the countries of Northern Hemispheres that have made the final of the cricket World Cup so far are the West Indies, England, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

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