You choke, answers de Villiers

South Africa captain AB de Villiers threw the tag of "chokers" back in the face of the team's critics following their World Cup quarterfinal rout of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

"I think we liked being called chokers, so we'll just keep that tag and move along as long as we keep winning," said de Villiers.

"We didn't come all this way just to make it to the semifinals," added the skipper, not required to bat on Wednesday after making a stunning 162 not out against the West Indies on his last SCG appearance during the pool stage.

South Africa's victory over Sri Lanka was all but assured after they dismissed the 1996 champions and runners-up at the last two World Cups for just 133.

De Villiers lost the toss but, following good work by the Proteas pacemen, leg-spinner Imran Tahir took four for 26 and off-spinner JP Duminy's haul of three for 29 included a hattrick.

South Africa now face a semifinal in Auckland on March 24 against the winners of this Saturday's match between New Zealand and the West Indies.

"It means a lot to us," said de Villiers of South Africa's victory.

"On the other side, it means absolutely nothing. You're going to have to start over again. We are committed to the fact that we're not going to show any weakness."

Reflecting on Wednesday's display in the field, de Villiers said: "I wouldn't say it's the best, but definitely the most important performance in the most important game to date.

"The way Dale [Steyn] and Kyle [Abbott] started off and then Morne [Morkel] who followed with a lot of heat, and then obviously the two spinners. We just worked really well as a bowling unit.

"It's never easy to play Sri Lanka, especially in World Cup games. They're a tough team to beat, so I'm very chuffed with what we've achieved, and I'd like us to enjoy this victory tonight and move on tomorrow."

Rounding off a perfect evening for South Africa, previously struggling 22-year-old opener Quinton de Kock -- whose six previous innings at the World Cup had yielded just 53 runs -- made 78 not out as the Proteas won with a huge 32 overs to spare.