Shoalhaven-based batsman, Nic Maddinson will be one of the key batsmen at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in the team’s bid for a place in the final against Pakistan.

He will not be overawed for he was Australia’s star in a five-match series against Sri Lanka in Darwin last October, scoring an unbeaten century in one game.

Owing to injury, Maddinson missed the final group match lost to South Africa, but was back at the top of the order in the quarter-final against the host nation, New Zealand on Sunday.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora but lost Tom Beaton cheaply.

Maddinson was then joined by captain Mitchell Marsh, and their partnership of 69 proved to be the best of the match.

After scoring 37 (off 45 balls) including three fours and a six, Maddinson was out in the 16th over, and Marsh was run out in the 20th over after completing a half-century.

While most of the others got a start, Tim Armstrong (39) did best, as the Aussies reached 8/232 from their 50 overs.

This was achieved in front of a crowd of some 1500 people supporting the locals.

The weather looked likely to have an impact after the break, it was quite dark but the light rain did not send players from the field.

Conscious of the need to complete 20 overs to enable the Duckworth-Lewis system to be used in the event of a washout, Marsh introduced spinners Jason Floros and Luke Doran with the ball relatively new, and this resulted in wickets.

The New Zealanders never got on top of the varied attack, and the weather held for the side to be all out for 170 in the 43rd over.

Sri Lanka easily accounted for South Africa in the other quarter-final, and it will be a tough opponent.

Today’s knockout semi-final will be telecast live in Australia on FOX SPORTS.