Botha is relishing his role in a South Africa team who have fielded the most effective attack at the World Cup after supplementing their potent pace attack with a trio of contrasting spinners.
Johan Botha is relishing his role in a South Africa team who have fielded the most effective attack at the World Cup after supplementing their potent pace attack with a trio of contrasting spinners.
South Africa, the only side to dismiss each of their opponents in the group stages, used off-spinner Botha to open the bowling in South Africa's final group game against Bangladesh.
Botha and his spin bowling partners Robin Peterson (left-arm orthodox) and Imran Tahir (right arm leg-spin) accounted for 19 of the 28 overs and six of the wickets as Bangladesh collapsed for 78.
South Africa already possess the best opening attack in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and appear to have all bases covered before their quarter-final against New Zealand in Dhaka on Friday.
"I think our three spinners are lot of different from each other and that has brought us a lot of wickets in the tournament," Botha told a news conference on Tuesday.
"Then we have world class seamers and I think they have done their job so far in the tournament. Now we do have a really good bowling attack.
"The plan for me is definitely to play the holding role, that's the way I played for the whole of my career."
Botha said Ross Taylor, New Zealand's best player of spin bowling, would be a threat on Friday.
"He is in very good form and he's played really well so far in this tournament," he said.
"We will be looking at a few things tomorrow and Ross is definitely a key player and so is Brendon McCullum.
There is (Scott) Styris who has got a lot of experience so we know we are up against a quality team and if we are not going to be on top of our game than it's really going to be a tough match.
"Daniel Vettori is a world class bowler, he is in the top few in the rankings and we respect him highly.
"Our guys have really played spin well in this tournament and we will be looking forward to playing him.
"You can't judge New Zealand by past form or recent form, they are a good team and on their day they can beat anyone. I think it's going to be a close match and hope it goes our way."
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