Ireland defeats South Africa in the series: United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi — In their third and final one-day international on Monday, Ireland defeated South Africa by 69 runs, earning a consolation victory.The prior matches were won by a weakened South Africa by 139 and 174 runs.
However, Ireland took the toss, batted for 284-9, their greatest score of the series, and then bowled out South Africa for 215 in the 47th over thanks to the contributions of medium-pacers Graham Hume, Craig Young, and Mark Adair.
Without Jason Smith’s 91 in his second ODI, South Africa would have been in worse shape, but they were already on their way to losing their second ODI against Ireland.
After stand-in captain Rassie van der Dussen was dismissed by Adair after being caught in the slips, openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks—who had replaced the injured captain Temba Bavuma—were both out for three runs in the fifth over.
Ireland defeats South Africa in the series:
South Africa was reduced to 79-5 in the 20th over when Young trapped Verreyne on 38 and got Stubbs’ outside edge on 20 despite Verreyne and Stubbs’ best efforts to rally them.
Smith entered in the 14th over of his second One-Day International and failed to score off of his first nine balls faced. Then he departed.
He hit his sixth boundary, past midwicket, to register his first half-century off 63 balls. He was out for 91 off 93 in the 45th over after slicing Hume to deep third. Smith scored nine boundaries and four sixes to amuse himself.
Adair took 2-54, Young 3-40, and Hume 3-29.
Also, Ireland’s batting was superior.
Ireland’s highest opening stand against South Africa came from captain Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, who opened with 101.
Lorcan Tucker added 26 and Curtis Campher added 34.
Meanwhile, medium-pacer Ottneil Baartman’s nip-backer defeated Stirling, who achieved his 30th ODI fifty and hit 88 off 92 balls with eight boundaries and three sixes.
While it appeared as though Ireland might reach 300, Lizaad Williams claimed three wickets in the 48th over, and Harry Tector, who was dropped at 33, was run out on 60 from 48 balls in the final over. His 11th ODI fifty came from there.
The teams split the Twenty20s, with South Africa winning the series 2-1.