‘You live for those pressure moments’
AB de Villiers admits that all his experience played a role in him helping South Africa beat England in the fifth and deciding ODI at Newlands on Sunday.
The Proteas captain, who was playing in his 200th ODI, scored an unbeaten 101 to guide his team to target of 237 with five wickets down as they won the series tree-two, coming back from two-nil down.
The hosts were certainly under the pump early in the chase as England reduced them to 22 for three but that is when De Villiers walked to the middle and immediately took control of the innings.
After the game De Villiers said: "You live for those pressure moments. Through an international career, you have ups and down but you always feel you are gong to be tested in moments like that.
"It has taken me years to feel comfortable and to feel like I have good composure in those situations."
The home team's skipper came to bat one position lower than he usually does at number four but says he feels comfortable with it, especially when chasing a target.
Rilee Rossouw replaced JP Duminy in the starting team and came to bat in the number four position.
De Villiers explained: "I like to push myself a little bit down when we are chasing. I feel I handle the pressure situations well and that's why I want to be there at the end.
"And if he is there at the end, the South Africans always feel they have a chance."
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