IANS/Christchurch

South African batsman Faf du Plessis yesterday said they are slowly building up intensity ahead of their opening match of the World Cup against Zimbabwe in Hamilton Sunday.
South Africa play their last warm-up game against co-hosts New Zealand here today.
“With New Zealand tomorrow we will play with a little bit more intensity because it is getting closer to that first match but we will still gradually build it up,” Du Plessis was quoted as saying by sportz24.co.za.
The 30-year-old says the team is anxious to get its campaign underway after months of One-Day International (ODI) cricket and preparation.
“It’s taken so long. The build-up to the World Cup especially has almost been a year. We are very excited as a team, we are ready, we have played a lot of cricket and we just want to get going now,” Du Plessis admitted.
“The important thing is that we are doing really well at the moment. We are not looking too much into these warm-up games. All our focus is geared up towards that first game against Zimbabwe.”
The top-order batsman hoped they would be tested by New Zealand so that they can learn from their mistakes and take the positives through to their opening game.
“Hopefully we get an opportunity to get some match intensity going. Whether it’s bowling at the death, or we get another situation where we are chasing,” he said.
“It’s difficult to get match intensity, but if we can get a match situation where we can learn something, that will be good. Hopefully New Zealand can put us in a position where we can learn something from the game and take it into our first opener.”
South Africa have never won the World Cup.

De Villiers fit to play warm-up fixture
CHRISTCHURCH: South Africa skipper AB de Villiers should be fit and ready to face New Zealand in the World Cup warm-up fixture here today.
De Villiers missed the Proteas’ first warm-up game against Sri Lanka after complaining off a stiff right hip. However, South Africa is not worried that the injury would prove to be a cause for concern at the World Cup, which starts Feb 14.
“AB complained of stiffness in his right hip. Our medical team examined him and the decision was made not to risk him. His omission was was merely a precautionary measure to ensure he doesn’t suffer any further discomfort,” Lerato Malekutu, the team’s spokesperson, was quoted as saying by sport24.co.za.
Malekutu added de Villiers should be ready for Wednesday’s warm-up match. South Africa begin their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Hamilton Sunday.
De Villiers has scored 7,459 Runs from 179 One-Day Internationals.