Ireland v South Africa: Proteas secure ODI series draw by winning third game
- Published
Watch: South Africa bounce back in style to draw series with Ireland
Third one-day international, Malahide |
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South Africa 346-4 (50 overs): Malan 177*, de Kock 120; Little 2-53 |
Ireland: 276 (47.1 overs): Singh 100*, Campher 54; Shamsi 3-46 |
South Africa won by 70 runs |
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie says his side are not disheartened despite losing their final one-day international against South Africa.
The hosts fell to a 70 run defeat as South Africa bounced back from Tuesday's loss in style to draw the three-game series.
Openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock hit centuries in a partnership worth 225 as the visitors posted 346, with Simi Singh's unbeaten 100 not enough for Ireland who were bowled out for 276.
"I think we bowled OK, but they just came out and batted really well," said Balbirnie.
"That's going to happen in international cricket. I know the last 10 overs went for 100, but with set batsmen and only getting four wickets to set a score that is chase-able is a credit to the bowlers.
"We're disappointed no doubt, we wanted to win a series. But I think the last week has given the guys confidence to know we can compete with these teams if we put in the performances."
After impressive batting displays in the opening two games, Ireland's top order did not fire as they were tasked with chasing a total for the first time this series.
Malan, who posted 89 in the second ODI, was imperious at the crease alongside De Kock in a measured and punishing unbeaten 177.
De Kock scored at a faster rate than his partner, reaching 120 off 91 balls before Mark Adair finally broke through in the 37th over.
Ireland did not threaten South Africa's total despite Simi Singh scoring his first international century
The manner of Ireland's defeat threatened to be considerably more emphatic were it not for the seventh-wicket intervention of Curtis Campher and Singh.
Keshav Maharaj struck twice in the first five overs to remove dangermen Paul Stirling (11) and Balbirnie (7) to leave Ireland reeling.
Campher (54) and Singh steadied the ship but were not able to score at the rate required to seriously challenge South Africa's total.
When Campher was caught by Malan off the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo, any faint hopes of a remarkable turnaround were extinguished.
Singh did provide a bright spark for the hosts on an otherwise disappointing day, reaching triple figures for the first time in his international career before Anrich Nortje took the final wicket of Craig Young.
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