New Zealand will meet Australia in the Champions Trophy final after an unbeaten half-century from Grant Elliott saw it cruise to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Wanderers.
All-rounder Elliott scored a measured 75 and forged what turned out to be a match-winning 104-run stand with captain Daniel Vettori (41) as New Zealand eased past the 234-run target with 13 balls to spare.
It came after Vettori and Ian Butler, who took a career-best four for 44, shared seven wickets between them to help restrict Pakistan to 9-233 in its 50 overs - a total built around Umar Akmal (55) and Mohammad Yousuf (45).
However, it proved a below-par score on the surface as the New Zealanders sealed their place in Monday's finale at Centurion.
The day did not start off that well, though, with Vettori losing the toss and asked to field first.
Pakistan made a slow start to its innings, with Kyle Mills (one for 46) and Shane Bond (one for 54) keeping the attacking opening pair of Kamran Akmal and Imran Nazir in check.
They had reached only 30 after eight overs but the introduction of Butler saw the shackles broken, with Nazir taking a particular liking to the medium pacer, striking him for three fours in an over that went for 13.
Bond remained disciplined at the other end to eventually send the same batsman on his way for 28 with a rising delivery that was fended straight into the air and Ross Taylor took a simple catch at first slip.
The 50 came up from 67 balls but Butler then dealt Pakistan a double blow when he removed Shoaib Malik (two) and Kamran Akmal (24) in consecutive overs, leaving Pakistan at 3-69 in the 15th over.
It was in further trouble shortly after when Taylor grabbed his third catch of the innings to send Younis Khan (15) on his way.
The captain tried to turn opposite number Vettori onto the leg side but only succeeded in offering a leading edge to the fielder at short cover.
Yousuf and Umar Akmal began to rebuild with a steady 50-run stand from 79 balls as they took their side past 150 in the 37th over.
They had put on 80 together when the fifth wicket fell - and it was Yousuf who went, chopping Mills on to his stumps to end his 78-ball knock.
That triggered a mini collapse and, after Umar Akmal brought up his 50 from 58 balls, he was unfortunately given out leg before wicket to Vettori (three for 43) by Simon Taufel despite the ball clearly hitting the bat first.
Shahid Afridi (four) followed but good lower-order hitting from Mohammad Aamer (19 not out) and Saeed Ajmal (14 not out) helped boost Pakistan's final total.
New Zealand made a sensational start to its chase, with Brendon McCullum smashing the second delivery bowled by Aamer (one for 32) for six over deep midwicket.
But the Pakistani paceman had his revenge in the fifth over when the opener chased a wide delivery and only managed to sky his shot towards deep extra cover - Afridi holding a good chance to send the batsman on his way for 17.
Umar Gul (one for 48) was then introduced to replace the expensive Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and struck first ball when Martin Guptill (11) played a poor attempted pull shot and was caught at mid-on.
Aaron Redmond and Taylor took their side past 50 in the 12th over, before the former was caught and bowled by Saeed Ajmal (two for 39), leaving New Zealand on 3-71.
A half-century stand between Taylor and Elliott helped keep the Kiwis on track but again the loss of a wicket handed Pakistan the initiative.
Taylor went this time when he played on to Afridi (one for 41) for 38.
Then came a decisive moment in the game, with Younis dropping a gentle lob that was pushed straight into his hands by Elliott.
At that stage Elliott was on 42 with New Zealand still needing 69 from 65 balls.
It took the final powerplay in the 43rd over and never looked back, with Elliot going on to share another 50 partnership, this time with Daniel Vettori, before his own 50 was brought up in 90 balls as the New Zealanders coasted to victory.