The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Ireland batsmen falter, South Africa cruises to victory scoreboard

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Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007
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Ireland batsmen falter, South Africa cruises to victory scoreboard

CRICKET / Sterling performance by Vernon Philander on his debut

BELFAST: South Africa warmed up for a three-match one-day cricket series against India in Belfast with an easy victory against an under-strength Ireland by 42 runs on Sunday.

The match started five hours late because of rain, leaving South Africa to score 173 for four in 31 overs. Ireland was all out for 131 with a ball to spare.

Fielding only five of the team that faced the South Africans in the World Cup this year, the Ireland openers put on 45 in nine overs then lost eight wickets for 51. Alex Cusack’s 36 in his one-day international debut delayed the inevitable.

South Africa left out Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and Andrew Hall, all of whom should be certainties for the series opener against India on Tuesday, and gave ODI debuts to all-rounder Vernon Philander and spin bowler Thandi Tshabalala.

Philander, who was due to play for Ireland this year in the Friends Provident Trophy but had to withdraw from the squad because of injury, impressed by dismissing William Porterfield and Kents Niall O’Brien for just seven runs in four overs.

He returned to take two more wickets and finish with four for 12 in 5.5 overs, the second-best figures by a South African on debut, and the seventh best by anyone. Dale Steyn, who had a fastest delivery of 148 kph (92 mph), also took two wickets.

Sent in to bat by Ireland, the South Africans made a whirlwind start with 88 on the board in 15 overs.

However, only 85 were added in the second half against a much more disciplined bowling from the Irishmen. — AP

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