Andrew Alderson: De Villiers + Eden Park = potential for huge score

AB de Villiers of South Africa. Photo / Getty Images.

A tantalising cricketing equation: South African captain AB de Villiers + tiny Eden Park boundaries - the prospective loss of Pakistani bowling dignity = the potential for huge score.

Such an equation depends on several catalysts.

1. De Villiers maintains the chutzpah which has brought him 409 runs at an average of 81.8 and strike rate of 188 since he set the fastest ODI century world record in 31 balls against the West Indies in Johannesburg on January 18.

2. Pakistan don't conjure up their mojo and the South African is confused by the bounce of 2.16m Mohammad Irfan, the hostility of Wahab Riaz or the cunning of Shahid Afridi.

3. The weather forecast is distracted by a few hours. At present rain is set to fall at the mid-innings break - about 6pm - in Auckland tomorrow, according to the Metservice.

South African pace bowler Dale Steyn and De Villiers made their first-class debuts together for Northerns against Western Province in October 2003 when the then-opener made 58 and 61.

"I remember him walking back [to the dressing room] and realising it wasn't that difficult. There's no roof or cap on how good he can possibly be. He's proven, this year especially, how good he is. Bowlers are struggling to get this guy out."

Steyn's comments come on the back of De Villiers' 162 off 66 balls to ensure a World Cup pool victory against the West Indies in Sydney. De Villiers now owns the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODIs.

"He's seeing the ball like no player's seen a cricket ball before," Steyn said. "I don't think the dimensions of the ground [Eden Park] matter; he'll find a way to score runs. That's the thing about really good players, they don't rely on conditions.

"It's like watching The Matrix, there's Neo for you right there. He doesn't understand how good he is.

"There are only two games I fear all year... the two IPL games I play against him. I try to work him out in the nets but even there he doesn't give all his secrets away."