We will benefit from pressure: Duminy

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH - MARCH 24: JP Duminy of South Africa bats during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on March 24, 2014 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH - MARCH 24: JP Duminy of South Africa bats during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on March 24, 2014 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Published Jul 11, 2014

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Johannesburg - Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy believes South Africa will benefit from being in pressurised situations in the build up to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Proteas face another pressure test in the third, series-deciding, one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Hambantota on Saturday.

The squad has regrouped following Wednesday's disappointing loss, and have welcomed the added pressure of a must-win game.

“It's vitally important for us to be exposed to these situations,” Duminy said ahead of training in Hambantota on Friday.

“We are going to be playing a lot of one-day games leading up to the World Cup so the more we get put in these situations the better it will be for us.

“We are making good strides in each and every game and hopefully if we are confronted with these situations in the future we will know what to do.”

Duminy says the batsmen have taken responsibility for the poor batting performance in Wednesday's match, and hopes there will be better decision-making in the crucial outing.

“I think it came down to poor shot selection,” he said.

“I'm a case in point if you look at my dismissal. As batters we take full responsibility for those soft dismissals. We want to get it right in the next game so we will prepare accordingly.”

The Proteas boast a good T20 record at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, having won three out of four matches played there in the last two years.

This will be their first day ODI at the venue, which has often provided both pace and bounce.

“It's going to be a good challenge for us,” Duminy added.

“The nice thing about this ground is that we have had good success in the past, even though it was in the T20 format, we'll take a lot of confidence from that.

“We understand that conditions will be different, with it being a day game it might be a lot slower in the second innings. We have to adapt accordingly, but I see it as a good challenge for us.”

Meanwhile, Dale Steyn has continued to recover from severe bruising to his right hand during Wednesday's match.

He came through training with minimal discomfort on Friday, and is likely to be available for selection subject to his condition on Saturday morning.

Sapa

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