Proteas already eyeing last eight – Behardien

SOUTH Africa may have three group games remaining at this World Cup, but it would be “foolish” if their minds aren’t already drifting towards the quarterfinals, says all-rounder Farhaan Behardien.

The Proteas play Ireland today at the Manuka Oval before completing their round-robin engagements against Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in Auckland and Wellington respectively. Victory in two of these three matches should be enough to ensure qualification for the knockout stages.

Obviously AB de Villiers’ team will be looking to achieve a 100 percent record though, which would see the Proteas finish second in Pool B should India remain unbeaten.

The likely quarter-final scenario would then be a clash against 1996 champions Sri Lanka in Sydney, although a possible match-up against hosts Australia in Adelaide is also a possibility.

“I think we’d be foolish not to have a look at the other pool and to kind of glance and to kind of prep a little bit accordingly. We still have got three very important games in this particular group, Ireland, Pakistan, the UAE, two games in New Zealand, one game in Canberra. We’ve got our eye on the other group, but we’re quietly confident about playing any of the opposition,” Behardien said yesterday.

He believes though, that regardless of the opposition, the Proteas will be prepared for potentially three tough knockout matches if they are to achieve the ultimate objective of lifting the coveted trophy on March 29 in Melbourne.

“We know once you get to the quarters, semis and finals, you’re going to have to play three strong games, and we’ve still got three strong games to go against Ireland, Pakistan and the UAE. So every game we’re taking step by step and it’s vitally important that we keep the momentum that we built up a little against the West Indies,” he said.

“I think just for now, like I say, we’re taking it game by game, and we were in New Zealand beforehand, and while we’re over here the bubble or the group of people that we do have, including management, we’re keeping each other focused and moving towards one goal, which is the 29th of March. I think if we keep that in sight, the rest of the stuff will take care of itself.”

To achieve this objective, the Proteas will no doubt lean on skipper De Villiers and the rest of the senior core to put in big performances in order stamp their authority on the tournament.

However, there will come a time that the other players within the 15 man squad will need to stand up and be counted if this group are going to achieve what no previous Proteas team has done before them at a World Cup.

“That’s been our emphasis over the last six months,” Behardien said of the strength of the reserves. “We played against the West Indies at home and the fact that our bench was so strong was a big factor. Rilee Rossouw, what a wonderful player, he came in and scored two hundreds in South Africa against the West Indies. Parnell was also on the bench and he came in and picked up four wickets in the last ODI.

“There is a lot of emphasis going into the squad of 15, it’s not just the 11 on the field,” he explained.

“The squad of 15 is important to our cause and going forward you never know if there will be an injury so the guys on the fringe are ready to step up when required.”