Ireland secured a much-needed consolation victory against South Africa in the third and final One-Day International, winning by 69 runs on Monday. The victory served as a glimmer of hope for Ireland after suffering heavy defeats in the first two matches, where South Africa triumphed by 139 and 174 runs respectively.
The Irish team, capitalizing on winning the toss, displayed their best batting performance of the series, posting a respectable 284 for nine. This set the stage for their bowlers, with medium-pacers Graham Hume, Craig Young, and Mark Adair stepping up to dismantle the South African batting order, bowling them out for 215 in the 47th over.
South Africa would have faced an even more difficult situation had it not been for Jason Smith’s valiant effort, scoring 91 in his second ODI. However, the team was already struggling, having lost their first two wickets early in the match. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, replacing the injured captain Temba Bavuma, both fell to catches in the slips. The situation worsened when stand-in captain Rassie van der Dussen was given out lbw to Adair, leaving South Africa reeling at 10 for three in the fifth over.
Kyle Verreynne and Tristan Stubbs attempted to revive the innings, but Young dismissed Verreynne on 38 and edged Stubbs out on 20. This reduced South Africa to 79 for five in the 20th over.
Smith, in his second ODI appearance, entered the game in the 14th over and initially struggled, failing to score off his first nine balls. He then unleashed a flurry of runs, reaching his maiden half-century off 63 balls with his sixth boundary. He eventually fell in the 45th over for 91 off 93 balls, slicing a shot to deep third off Hume. Smith’s innings was a highlight, featuring four sixes and nine boundaries. Hume finished with figures of three for 29, Young claimed three for 40, and Adair took two for 54.
Ireland’s batting performance was also commendable. Captain Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, opening the innings, put together a 101-run partnership, Ireland’s highest opening stand against South Africa. Curtis Campher contributed 34 runs, while Lorcan Tucker added 26. Stirling, meanwhile, notched his 30th ODI fifty, reaching 88 off 92 balls, with eight boundaries and three sixes, before being bowled by medium-pacer Ottneil Baartman.
Ireland appeared poised to surpass the 300-run mark, but Lizaad Williams claimed three wickets in the 48th over, and Harry Tector, who was dropped on 33, was run out in the final over on 60 from 48 balls. This was his 11th ODI fifty.
Despite the consolation win, South Africa emerged victorious in the ODI series, winning 2-1. The two teams also split the Twenty20 series 1-1.
