I can't win this World Cup alone: de Villiers

South Africa's captain AB de Villiers says he could feel before the game that his team wasn't up for its Cricket World Cup match against Pakistan.

His gut instinct was right, with the highly-fancied Proteas losing by 29 runs at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

South Africa, who disappointed when chasing 307 against India earlier in the World Cup, failed to reach a modest target of 232.

Quick Single: Proteas pip Pakistan in World Cup thriller

Pakistan were bowled out for 222, and South Africa were given a target of 232 in 47 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system after rain twice halted the game.

After cruising to 1-67 after nine overs, South Africa were reduced quickly to 6-102 through hostile bowling by Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz.

Pakistan were nearly made to pay for missing a chance to run out de Villiers when he was on 15 as he plundered a quick-fire 77, but his team's chances effectively ended when he was ninth man out with the score at 200.

"I felt that Pakistan wanted it more than us," de Villiers said.

"I tried to get the boys going before the game because it didn't feel like we had enough energy, and I guess that showed with the batting.

"I've got nothing good to say about the team at the moment."

De Villiers, the world's No.1 ranked ODI batsman, denied suggestions he was carrying his side, but conceded his side needed to unite if they are to shake off their World Cup hoodoo.

"I have full faith and ability in the players around me. That’s why they’re all here," de Villiers said.

"I know I can’t win this World Cup alone. There’s no way.

"There’s no doubt, I can’t do it alone and I need my teammates.

"I know that they’ve got the ability and capability and the talent to do that. It’s a matter of pulling together as a side. 

"Getting together as a senior group of players. 

"Helping the youngsters to lift their game a little bit and together as unit we can try to move forward.

"I don’t feel added pressure on myself. I don’t feel that I’ve got to do too much.

"Iv’e got World Class players around me. I’ve got the best batter, I believe, Hashim Amla, around me and a lot of other really good players."

The 31-year-old said the pitch had a little bit in it but that the target should have been one the team could easily chase down.

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Rahat claimed three of nine left-arm pace wickets // Getty Images

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said he hoped the victory showed the team was on the improve.

"People have started believing in themselves, players have started trusting in their abilities," he said.

"Fair enough it's just the first big victory, but we're on the right path and hopefully we're going to get better and better."

Waqar said he didn't agree with de Villiers' assertion that Pakistan's attack, though good, was "nothing extraordinary".

"Maybe he didn't find that because he played really well, but I guess the others found it was. If you ask the others they will tell you it was not easy to bat against."

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed took six catches and scored 49 after being included for the first time in the World Cup to try to solve two of Pakistan's problems - a lack of runs from the openers and less than tidy keeping from part-timer Umar Akmal.

South Africa are second in pool B courtesy of a better net run rate than Pakistan and are still favourites to finish second behind India unless they suffer a shock loss to the United Arab Emirates or if Ireland win all their remaining games.

Pakistan may need to beat Ireland in their final match of the group in Adelaide on March 15 to ensure they qualify for the quarter-finals.