Champions Trophy Final

New Zealand booked a place in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy against Australia with a convincing five-wicket victory over Pakistan on Saturday.

An unbeaten 75 from New Zealand middle-order batsman Grant Elliott guided his side to victory at Wanderers Stadium after the Black Caps had earlier done well to restrict Pakistan to 233-9 after losing the toss and being asked to bowl first.

New Zealand reached their victory target for the loss of just five wickets with 14 balls to spare and will play Ricky Ponting's side in the final Monday. Elliott's 104-run partnership for the fifth wicket with captain Daniel Vettori took New Zealand to the brink of victory. Vettori was stumped by Kamran Akmal off spinner Saeed Ajmal for 41 in the 47th over of the innings with his side just four runs short of victory. Neil Broom struck the winning run to finish on three not out.

Things could have been very different if Pakistan captain Younis Khan had not dropped Elliott on 42, spilling an easy catch in the covers off the bowling Mohammad Aamer.

Elliott, 30, who was born in Johannesburg and only qualified to play for New Zealand in 2007, played a patient innings before cutting loose in the batting power play when he and Vettori added 55 runs.

Elliott hit five fours and a six in his 103-ball innings and Vettori dismissed Khan for 15, Akmal and Naved-ul-Hasan for 8 to finish with 3-43

If more context is needed, New Zealand have historically seen Australia as big brothers, and have always sought to bring their best against them. Moreover, New Zealand are yet to beat Australia in a tournament final, and have lost six times (tournaments with more than one final have been considered as one). Centurion will not provide them with a freak pitch either. It's all stacked up against New Zealand this time, and no self-respecting underdog story would have it any other way.

The last time Australia played a major final in South Africa, down the road at the Wanderers, Ponting scored 140 and Australia 359 as India were annihilated in a World Cup final. Daniel Vettori and his team will need more than an African good-luck charm or two to avoid a similar fate.

How good this story is will be known by Monday evening, or rather early on Tuesday morning in Australia and New Zealand.