Proteas overpower Irish

South Africa captain AB de Villiers on Tuesday backed his team to go far in the World Cup following a 201-run romp over hapless Ireland in Canberra to record their third win in Pool B.

Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis hit centuries while Dale Steyn shone in his 100th one-day international as South Africa showcased their prowess with the rout of Ireland.

Amla scored 159 off 128 balls to become the fastest man to reach 20 ODI centuries and du Plessis made 109 as the Proteas piled up a massive 411 for four after taking first strike at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

Steyn put aside worries of mountain fires near his home in Cape Town as he bowled a hostile opening spell to wreck Ireland with two wickets in his first three overs.

The fast bowler, who had grabbed just three wickets in South Africa's first three pool matches, finished with two for 39 and Kyle Abbott grabbed four for 21 as Ireland were bundled out for 210 in 45 overs.

The Proteas are often regarded as the best team never to have won cricket's showpiece event, having fallen in the knock-out rounds after cruising through the league stage.

But de Villiers was confident history could be re-written this time, but preferred not to look too far ahead.

"Look I have believed for the past year that we can win the World Cup, but we are taking it pretty much match by match," de Villiers said.

"I have told the boys to try and not watch other games, just focus on what we have to do. The focus now is to play Pakistan in Auckland on Sunday.

"When we reach the quarterfinals we will think of the opposition and give it our best shot."

South Africa's third win in four matches brought them level on six points with defending champions India, who have played one less match.

Ireland were left with four points from three games and their next game is against Zimbabwe in Hobart, also on Sunday.

De Villiers said he was very happy with the performance against Ireland, especially the batting in which they piled up 411 for four and then bowled out the rivals for 210.

The charge was led by Amla and du Plessis with a 247-run stand for the second wicket.

South Africa's total was the second highest total in World Cup history, just two runs behind India's record 413 for five against Bermuda in 2007.

It was the second successive 400-plus total for the Proteas in the current tournament, following their 408 for five against the West Indies in Sydney last week.

The Irish were reduced to 21 for three by the fifth over and slipped to 48 for five by the 11th before Andy Balbirnie (58) and Kevin O'Brien (48) led a late revival by adding 81 for the sixth wicket.

With victory almost assured, de Villiers used eight bowlers -- including himself -- ahead of tougher games.