Planning the key to SA's success, says Arthur

The Proteas beat Scotland and New Zealand in the first round before cruising impressively past England by seven wickets in their Super Eights opener to take pole position in a pool which also includes champions India and West Indies.

“We have been planning for this for a year now, it has not just happened,” said Arthur. “It has been a strategy of ours when we looked at what was happening with the domestic Twenty20 in England knowing full well we would be over here playing this time. We kept an eye on it all.”

South Africa have also shone by playing two spinners, Roelof van der Merwe and Johan Botha.

“We knew spinners were going to be key, we went that route against Australia, believing that in Twenty20 cricket pace off the ball is vital, so we have moulded an attack which gives us some variation.”

South Africa, who have never won a one-day tournament, have already been tipped as likely winners of the World Twenty20 this time.