Ireland Secures Convincing Win Over South Africa in Final ODI
Ireland concluded their ODI series against South Africa with an emphatic 69-run victory in the final match held in Abu Dhabi.
Irish captain Paul Stirling led the charge with a commanding 88, guiding his side to a competitive total as Ireland wrapped up the series on Monday with a convincing performance.
Second ODI Win Over the Proteas
Chasing a target of 285, South Africa struggled to build momentum, collapsing to 126-6, with only a valiant 91 from Jason Smith keeping them in the contest. However, Smith’s effort wasn’t enough to prevent Ireland from securing only their second-ever ODI win over the Proteas.
“It’s a relief to get through this,” Stirling commented post-match. “We focused on just winning the game and getting the job done. We let ourselves down in the first two games, but we knew if we applied ourselves and kept wickets in hand, we could get the runs.”
Graham Hume, born in Johannesburg and a former South Africa Under-19 player, was Ireland’s standout bowler, taking 3-29, while Ulster-born Craig Young chipped in with 3-40.
Despite the win, South Africa claimed the ODI series 2-1, following a shared 1-1 result in the preceding T20 series.
Early Struggles for South Africa
Stirling set the tone for Ireland’s innings after winning the toss and electing to bat. This was a shift from the first two matches, where Ireland faltered while chasing, being bowled out for 132 and 169 in pursuit of big South African totals.
On Monday, Stirling and Andy Balbirnie built a solid opening stand of 101 before Balbirnie was dismissed for 45 off 73 balls by Lizaad Williams. Curtis Campher then upped the tempo with a brisk 34 off 36 balls but was bowled by Ottneil Baartman, who also dismissed Stirling in his next over. Stirling’s innings included three sixes and eight fours.
Harry Tector kept the momentum going for Ireland with a well-paced 60 off 48 balls, while Williams finished as South Africa’s most successful bowler with 4-56 from his 10 overs.
South Africa’s Struggles Continue
South Africa’s reply quickly fell apart as they slumped to 10-3. Mark Adair removed Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen, who was standing in as captain for the injured Temba Bavuma, while Reeza Hendricks edged a delivery from Hume to Balbirnie at second slip.
Kyle Verreynne (38) and Tristan Stubbs (20) tried to stabilize the innings with a 49-run partnership, but once Verreynne was trapped lbw by Young, South Africa’s hopes dwindled further.
At 126-6, the Proteas looked down and out, but Jason Smith delayed Ireland’s celebrations. Drafted in as a replacement for Wiaan Mulder, who returned home for personal reasons, Smith made the most of his opportunity. He smashed 91 off 93 balls, including nine fours and four sixes, before eventually slicing a delivery from Hume to Adair at third man, sealing the win for Ireland.
