Cricket: SA comfortable being labeled 'the best'

South African batsman JP Duminy pictured in action as he helps lead South Africa to victory at the ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa. Photo / Alan Gibson.

South Africa will go back to No 1 in the world ODI rankings if they beat New Zealand 3-0 in the current series.

Middle order batsman JP Duminy wasn't aware of that but he reckons South Africa are comfortable being talked of as among the best sides in the game heading towards the World Cup.

''I think we are," he said, a day after South Africa's comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-game series in Mount Maunganui.

''The way we've been playing one-day cricket in the last year is the way we want to go about our business. We are a team that likes to be quietly confident and not be out there in the way we speak about confidence. We like to portray our confidence out on the field in the way we perform.

''Leading up to the World Cup and in the cup that'll be the way we go about things."
Duminy made an unbeaten 58, sharing an unbroken, and match deciding 139-run fifth wicket partnership with captain AB de Villiers.

He praised New Zealand's aggressive mindset in the field yesterday, where captain Brendon McCullum rotated his bowlers and tried to keep the heat on South Africa, especially when they were just rocking slightly at 97 for four chasing New Zealand's inadequate 230.

''That's definitely a tick in their box, the way they go about their business in terms fo being aggressive in the field. As a batter you always have that intimidating feeling if fielders are in your space.

''It's good to see the way he captains his team and there's definitely something we can take out of that - attacking no matter what the situation is, just keep squeezing the batting side."