'Choke' is on you, says de Villiers

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AFP Sydney
Last Updated : Mar 18 2015 | 6:42 PM IST
South Africa captain AB de Villiers threw the tag of "chokers" back in the face of the team's critics following their World Cup quarter-final rout of Sri Lanka today.
The Proteas were in dominant form, triumphing by nine wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground as they finally won a World Cup knockout match at the sixth time of asking.
"I think we liked being called chokers, so we'll just keep that tag and move along as long as we keep winning," said de Villiers.
"We didn't come all this way just to make it to the semi-finals," added the skipper, not required to bat today after making a stunning 162 not out against the West Indies on his last SCG appearance during the pool stage.
South Africa's victory over Sri Lanka was all but assured after they dismissed the 1996 champions and runners-up at the last two World Cups for just 133.
De Villiers lost the toss but, following good work by the Proteas' pacemen, leg-spinner Imran Tahir took four for 26 and off-spinner JP Duminy's haul of three for 29 included a hat-trick.
South Africa now face a semi-final in Auckland on March 24 against the winners of this Saturday's match between New Zealand and the West Indies.
- 'Don't show weakness' -
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"It means a lot to us," said de Villiers of South Africa's victory.
"On the other side, it means absolutely nothing. You're going to have to start over again. We are committed to the fact that we're not going to show any weakness.
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First Published: Mar 18 2015 | 6:42 PM IST

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