In the last 6 years South Africa have beaten top 8 sides 58 times out of 108. Amongst those, they've only beaten a top 8 side once when Amla and De Villiers have been dismissed for less than 40.
That was against pakistan on 6 Nov 2013.
There have been 3 other occasions when they've beaten a top 8 side without either of them scoring at least 40, but on those occasions 1 if not both didn't play.
v Australia 5 Apr 2009 Amla didn't play
v Australia 23 Oct 2011 De Villiers didn't play
v New Zealand 25 Jan 2013 neither of them played
That means in the 108 matches they've played in the last 6 years against top 8 sides, they've won only 4 times when both Amla and De Villiers have scored less than 40. That's a damning statistic to suggest South Africa can't win without the 2. They have a strong batting line-up but they rely heavily on the 2 and if both get dismissed early, South Africa are susceptible to the choke.
I can see South Africa reaching the knockouts, but I think they'll choke.
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