AB de Villiers propels South Africa past UAE

AB de Villiers became the third man in the history of World Cups to be dismissed for 99, but his innings helped South Africa thrash the United Arab Emirates by a 146 runs in their Group B match played in Wellington on Thursday.

De Villiers came to the crease in the 17th over after South Africa had lost their openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.

De Villiers and Rille Rossouw dropped anchor and began to restore order in the innings. The duo looked to conquer the slow and dry pitch that was on offer. UAE's spinners Mohammad Tauqir and Amjad Javed made it difficult for their more accomplished opponents to break the shackles.

They gave away only 43 runs between the 11th and 21st overs and South Africa managed just two boundaries at that stage. Even de Villiers was briefly tied down - 32 off 41 balls in the 29th over.

South Africa reached the 100-run mark in the 20th over. De Villiers, at that stage, brought up his half century from 54 balls.

He then switched gears and smashed a flurry of boundaries. He and David Miller added 108 runs for the fourth wicket and provided the impetus they needed for a sizeable total.

De Villiers fell for 99 in the 43rd over but he had done the damage and his innings helped South Africa score 341. De Villiers, the bowler, starred with the ball as well and - along with Morne Morkel - claimed two wickets. UAE's batsmen didn't have an answer to the quality of South Africa's attack. They managed just 195 in reply.

"Very happy about today," de Villiers, the Man of the Match, said. "It was hard work. They made it difficult for us. I was happy with the way we fought throughout. I won't say it is simple, but I try to keep it simple. Not always easy to play against a team not as good as you usually play. Was important for me to stick to my gameplans. Never a given that you will make the quarter-final so a big moment for us. We are representing our country in a knockout match in a World Cup. I think in Sydney. I'll wait for the crunch time in the knockout to bowl my overs. It was an opportunity to give some of the part-timer bowlers a run so we took it. Not a given that we will play five bowlers in the quarterfinal."