Ireland beat South Africa by 69 runs in the last match of the 3-match ODI series between South Africa and Ireland. Captain Paul Stirling scored 88 runs off 92 balls. While Graham Hume and Craig Young took three wickets each. This is the second time in ODI history that Ireland have beaten South Africa.
South Africa had already clinched the series by winning the first two matches of the three-match ODI series. Earlier, the 2 T-20 series was tied 1-1. In the match played in Abu Dhabi, Ireland captain Paul Stirling won the toss and batted first, scoring 284 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Chasing the target, South Africa could score only 215 runs.
A century partnership for the first wicket Openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie gave Ireland a good start. Together, they scored 101 runs off 140 balls for the first wicket. Spinner Tristan Stubbs gave South Africa their first breakthrough. He sent opener Andy Balbirni to the pavilion off the second ball of the 24th over caught by Lizad Williams. Balbirnie faced 73 balls and scored 45 runs.
Captain Stirling also shared a half-century partnership with Curtis Kemper after Balbirnie's dismissal. The two shared a 58-run partnership for the second wicket in 53 balls. Kemper scored 34 runs off 36 balls. After Kemper's dismissal, Paul Sterling was also dismissed early. He faced 92 balls and scored 88 runs.
Openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie put on 101 runs off 140 balls for the first wicket.
Harry Tector's half century After the dismissal of captain Stirling, Harry Tector took charge of Ireland's innings. He was the team's second top scorer. He faced 48 balls and scored 60 runs. He shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 54 off 50 balls with Lorcan Tucker to take the team to 284 for 9. For South Africa, Lizard Williams took 4 wickets for 56 runs in 10 overs. While Otniel Bartman and Andile Phehlukwayo took 2 wickets each.
Harry Tector scored 60 runs off 48 balls.
South Africa lost 3 wickets for 10 runs Chasing a target of 285 runs, South Africa did not get off to a good start and lost 3 wickets within 10 runs. Mark Adair got the first breakthrough for Ireland in the first over, dismissing Ryan Rickleton in the fifth ball of the over.
Graham Hume got Riza Hendricks caught by Andy Balbirni to give the team another win. Africa's third wicket fell on the score of 10 runs. Mark Adair got Rasi van der Dusen out LBW to give the team their third win. Kyle Vereen then took over the South African innings and shared a 53-ball 49-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the fourth wicket.
Kyle Vereen faced 36 balls and scored 38 runs. Jason Smith scored the most runs for Africa. He faced 93 balls and scored 91 runs. Jason hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. Craig Young and Graham Hume took 3 wickets each for Ireland.
Jason Smith scored the most runs for Africa. He faced 93 balls and scored 91 runs. Jason scored his first career fifty.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
