South African spearhead Dale Steyn said Friday he believed a good personal return in a World Cup match was just around the corner.
The Proteas will head into Saturday`s pool clash against Pakistan in Auckland with Steyn, widely regarded as the world`s best fast bowler, having taken just five wickets in four matches at the tournament.
Steyn, 27, has been overshadowed by Morne Morkel (nine wickets), leg-spinner Imran Tahir (nine) and Kyle Abbott (six in two matches) in South Africa`s three wins in four Pool B games.
South Africa will, however, still look to Steyn to exploit Pakistan`s top-order frailties at Eden Park.
And Steyn said he was not too far off his best form “I don`t think I`ve bowled too badly. I think against Zimbabwe I actually wanted to bowl quite quick and run in and try to knock them over,” said Steyn of a match in which he had figures of one for 64 in nine overs.
“I just ignored that (basic) instinct, and just wanted to run in and blast them where it didn`t work. After that I think I got better and better.
“I haven`t taken the wickets that I want to take, but that`s the World Cup. In a World Cup you don`t have anywhere to hide.”
“There are only ten wickets to take, and when Imran takes five or Abbott takes four, there is not much for the other bowlers to take.
“So you have to do what you have to do in order for your team to win. I`m happy with that. I feel if we make our way all the way to the final, I`m due to have a good game somewhere in there.” Asked how will he handle bowling to South Africa captain and dynamic batsman AB de Villiers, Steyn jokingly said: “I`d trip him on his way out of the hotel tomorrow morning and hope that he breaks his ankle.
“I don`t know,” he added with a laugh. “He`s a phenomenal player and seeing the ball like no other player has seen a cricket ball before, and he`s playing shots that I don`t think most people have seen before.
