Justin Kemp almost certainly booked South Africa a place in the semi-final of the World Twenty20 with a majestic unbeaten 90 in a six-wicket win over New Zealand at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

The result ensured England's elimination from the tournament, and left India requiring two wins from their remaining two games to force a run-rate calculation between themselves, New Zealand and South Africa.

Chasing a tricky target of 154, the hosts' pursuit didn't get off to a desirable start as skipper Graeme Smith (2) danced down the wicket, gave himself room to swing through the line of the ball, only succeeding in getting a fat edge through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

An over later a lazy slash at a wide one from Mark Gillespie had McCullum taking another simple catch and AB de Villiers out for a mere one.

Herschelle Gibbs (back in the side at the expense of JP Duminy) and Justin Kemp steadied ship with a solid 28-run stand before substitute fielder Jeetan Patel, who took two pressured catches against England on Tuesday, added another to his tally with Gibbs (19 off 19 balls) perishing in the deep.

Middle-order stalwarts Mark Boucher and Kemp put up a frightfully calm fourth-wicket partnership of 65.

Momentum kicked in further for the Saffers when Chris Martin went for 14 runs in the 15th over of the innings, Kemp going to his half-ton with a magnificent straight drive for four in that over.

Boucher's stint at the crease ended when Gillespie had another scalp caught behind, South Africa's wicketkeeper-batsman falling for 23 from as many deliveries.

Local legend Shaun Pollock and Kemp pulled out all the stops and quickly had the Kiwi bowlers huffing and puffing as to where to bowl next. Pollock (16 not out off 11) and Kemp were ruthless with anything on a length and just as merciless with the shorter stuff.

19 runs off the 17th over followed by 10 off the 18th left the hosts needing just 12 runs off 12 balls.

Some elegant stroke-play coupled with some ingenious flicks and paddles left just two runs need off the final over.

All that was need from that ultimate over was one ball as man of the match Kemp (90 not out off 56) promptly nailed the delivery back over Gillespie's (2 for 11 in 3.1 overs) head for his sixth six of the innings.

Earlier it was the Black Caps who struggled to post a formidable total despite a sound opening partnership between Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum.

The Kiwi duo added 68 for the first wicket in just over eight overs before Morne Morkel entered the fray and removed McCullum for 38 and Ross Taylor (1) five balls later.

Morkel employed a length which strike bowlers Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel failed to find - Nel in particular threw down too many full deliveries that were easily dispatched by the batsmen.

From 68 without loss the New Zealanders floundered to 90 for four with over a dozen overs bowled. With McCullum, Taylor, Vincent (32) and Scott Styris (6) back in the dugout, Giant Jacob Oram and Craig 'Mr Reliable' McMillan produced a handy fightback that saw 41 runs smashed in just four overs.

McMillan took a liking to Albie Morkel's medium-pacers, carting him over long-on for six, shallow fine-leg for four and then back over long-on for another biggie as the New Zealand total rocketed into triple figures.

Younger brother Morne re-entered the attack and quickly stood up for his sibling, removing the dangerous Oram for 15.

Poor old Nathan McCullum was run-out for a quacker on debut and an over later Daniel Vettori (1) failed to repeat his lower-order heroics of previous outings, caught on the pull by a diving Albie Morkel.

Wicketkeeper Boucher took a blinder of a catch to get rid of Shane Bond for a first-baller and hand Morne his fourth wicket of the day.

The same over saw Morkel junior (4 for 17) blindly robbed of achieving the first ever five-wicket haul in Twenty20 international cricket; umpire Billy Doctrove calling a dodgy no-ball. Replays showed Morkel's front foot, though in the air, was clearly behind the line. Mark Gillespie survived and Mr. Doctrove was left embarrassed by replays shown on the big screen at the stadium.

McMillan (48 not out off 25 balls) and Gillespie (3 not out off 7) heaved, missed, pulled, pushed and prodded through the last over, taking their side to a total that, though modest, was always going to be hard to chase down against the gutsy Kiwi attack.

Jonhenry Wilson