Cricket World Cup: South African captain AB de Villiers confident his side can win tournament

SOUTH Africa can go all the way. Skipper AB de Villiers has no doubts about that.

South African captain AB De Villiers talks with teammates during their Cricket World Cup Pool B match against Ireland in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

SOUTH Africa can go all the way. Skipper AB de Villiers has no doubts about that.

Tuesday night’s second successive total of over 400, a world record in one-day international cricket, followed by a second consecutive win by a margin of more than 200 runs, has put the rest of the World Cup teams on notice that the Proteas are shaping up nicely.

South Africa has a 3-1 record, rebounding from a demoralising loss to India to thrash West Indies last Friday in Sydney and Ireland last night in Canberra.

De Villiers hit 162 not out against West Indies and opener Hashim Amla stepped up to claim man of the match last night, scoring a superb 159 off 128 balls including 16 fours and four sixes.

Ireland made 210 in reply to South Africa’s 4-411 before de Villiers declared: “We played the best possible cricket we could have played today.

“We ticked a lot of boxes,” de Villiers added.

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De Villiers said he was confident the Proteas had the firepower to win their first World Cup title.

“I’ve felt like that for the last year,” he said.

“The belief is still there.

“It has been said so many times that we’re one of the favourites to win this tournament.

“Deep down inside we know we can.

“For now we wouldn’t like to touch on the final. We’d like to focus on the near future.”

South Africa is second in Pool B.

“It’s not impossible for us to finish on top,” de Villiers said.

“That’s still a goal of ours. We’ve just got to focus on playing Pakistan in Auckland (on Saturday) and not worry about what happens in other games.”

Seamer Kyle Abbott has come into the side in the past two World Cup matches and taken 2-37 and 4-21 in his 12th and 13th ODI games.

Allrounder JP Duminy (side strain) is pushing for a recall against Pakistan in Auckland on Saturday.

“The way he (Abbott) has bowled has pleased me a lot but no one’s guaranteed of a spot though,” de Villiers said.

“We’ll have to get the balance right for the next game.”

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: South African captain AB de Villiers confident his side can win tournament