South African skipper AB de Villiers said he doesn’t mind being called ‘chokers’ as long as they keep on winning matches.
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Yesterday, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Proteas became the first tem to qualify for the 2015 World Cup after a sensational performance in the field saw them hammer Sri Lanka by nine wickets with 32 overs to spare.
“I’m quietly confident of our chances of winning the tournament” #SLVSA #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/3peZ2iDK1S
— ICC (@ICC) March 18, 2015
Saying that such a win will be great for his side’s confidence, de Villiers added: “I don’t mind really. I think we liked being called chokers, so we will just keep that tag and move along as long as we keep winning.
“It’s a great achievement from a team that came here to win the World Cup.
“Our next hurdle is the semifinals and we will try to find a way to get over that hurdle.
“It means a lot to us. A big part of sport is about confidence and the way you believe in your ability, and I truly believe that we feel really strong as a unit and confident going into the semifinals.
“But it also means absolutely nothing because you are going to have to start all over again.
“We didn’t come all this way to say that we made it to the semifinal of a World Cup. We want to go all the way as a team, and we believe we have the right group here to achieve that.”
South Africa restricted Sri Lanka to 133 runs, with Imran Tahir taking four wickets and JP Duminy three, but the real pressure was exerted by the fast bowlers and some terrific work in the field.
And de Villiers said: “It’s up there with one of the best bowling performance I’ve seen.
“Look, we’ve done some amazing things with the bowling before. I wouldn’t say it’s the best, but definitely the most important performance in the most important game to date.
“I am very proud of the way the guys stepped up to the plate, the way Dale (Steyn) and Kyle (Abbott) started off and then Morne (Morkel) who followed with a lot of heat, and then obviously the two spinners.
A first ever World Cup knockout win for South Africa. Who will they play in the semifinal? #SLvSA #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/l8P7vQKyLb
— ICC (@ICC) March 18, 2015
“We just worked really well today as a bowling unit, and the fielders backed up exceptionally well.
“I don’t think there was too much in the pitch. I don’t think we bowled them off their feet. It was just a really sharp, good game plan kind of performance.
“I didn’t see them jumping around in the crease or playing the seam. It was just a really good team effort in the field.”
South Africa will take on the winners of the quarter-final match between New Zealand and West Indies in Auckland.
