De Villiers, Behardien propel SA to 341

South Africa 341 for 6 (de Villiers 99, Behardien 60*, Naveed 3-63) v UAE
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

UAE's slow bowlers had tossed sugar into the fuel tank of the South African batting machine on a sluggish track at the Regional Stadium. But AB de Villiers had it purring in no time for Farhaan Behardien to step on the gas in the final overs and reprise their record of scoring 300-plus every time they batted first in this World Cup.

You wouldn't want to be the team that comes up against South Africa after a loss. They have gone down nine times in ODIs in the last 12 months and have won the next game with a vengeance on five occasions - the latest being a caning of West Indies by 257 runs in Sydney. De Villiers had proclaimed his team was the best in the tournament; he might not get too many people nodding their heads to that. But should he ever name himself as the best batsman in the world, the reception would be far warmer. As at the SCG, he adjusted better, discovered gaps in the field far more frequently and built his innings towards the crescendo that has become a day-to-day occurrence.

He had come to the crease in the 17th over with UAE having adjusted their tactics to a slow and dry pitch. Mohammad Tauqir, the offspinner, and Amjad Javed, who may as well be called the offcutter, gave away only 43 runs between the 11th and 21st overs and only twice did the ball reach the boundary. There were five times as many in the first 10 overs, which highlights the skill of the two bowlers and the South Africa batsmen's relative uncertainty against slow bowling.

Rilee Rossouw's stint at No. 3 today was proof of that. There was no swing for the UAE seamers and they pitched the ball on either side of the good length area setting themselves up for Rossouw's punches and pulls. Kamran Shazad, who replaced Manjula Guruge despite his 4 for 56 against Pakistan, was hit out of the attack after twin fours in three of his five overs. South Africa cruised past 50 in the ninth over and UAE offered four free hits in that period. But he was beaten first ball by Tauqir's offspin and was fortunate to have his off stump left standing. The same theme continued for the 13 balls he faced from the UAE captain, which cost only three runs, and his wicket for 43 off 49 balls.

Even de Villiers was briefly tied down - 32 off 41 balls in the 29th over. But it appeared he was merely biding his time, clever batting considering UAE's death bowling stocks wouldn't tempt a compulsive gambler. They conceded 101 runs in the final 10 overs.

UAE could have had De Villiers too with their pace-off-the-ball method, but Javed was unable to hold onto a return catch in the 38th over and had to stare forlornly at his next ball was picked up and sent packing over the midwicket boundary. There was another six, and three more fours, as de Villiers peppered the boundary like an impulsive grocery shopper flicking things onto his cart because he felt like it. Thirty-two off 41 had become 90 off 75 with hardly a fuss.

A fifth century in the last 25 innings beckoned, but de Villiers sliced Shazad's medium pace to short third man. A crop of school kids clutched their heads in disbelief, but the man himself walked off with a smile. It was his first 99 in 178 innings, but his wicket did allow just enough time for Behardien to stake his own claim as a finisher. He doesn't look powerful and there will be questions over his ability to handle better attacks, but his swipes and hacks were enough to secure five fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 31-ball 64, including a 25-run final over.

South Africa will still be worried about Quinton de Kock, though. Today was his best chance to scramble some form but he was 9 off 22, misjudged the pace of 130-140 kph bowlers and appeared similarly unsure of his running between the wickets. His fifth boundary in as many matches took him to his highest score of the World Cup - 26 off 45 - and finally was undone by a canny offcutter from Javed. Luckily for him, his poor form hasn't really impacted the team too much.