South Africa wins against Ireland in cricket

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.

Photo: South Africa wins against Ireland in cricket

South Africa wins against Ireland in cricket

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 Proteas 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 allrounder 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 Gloucestershire trialist William Porterfield and Kents Niall OBrien 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 into bat first by Ireland, the Proteas made a whirlwind start with 88 on the board in 15 overs, but only 85 were added in the second half against much more disciplined bowling.

Morne Van Wyk, playing only his second ODI, four years after his first in the English final at Lords, and AB de Villiers showed no respect for Ireland's hero against India on Saturday, Roger Whelan. The opening bowler who dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in his first over, conceded 43 runs in his seven overs before claiming de Villiers for 40, thanks to a diving catch on the cover boundary by Cusack.

The Australian-born Cusack was involved in every wicket, taking three in successive overs for just nine runs as Ireland hauled itself back into the contest.

Van Wyk, who played club cricket in Belfast in 2003, was caught at midwicket just after reaching his 50 from 80 balls, captain Jacques Kallis hit a run-a-ball 46 before holing out to cover, and Herschelle Gibbs was caught behind for 2.