Meanwhile, John Mooney keeps it tight for his first five balls of the seventh over, before a wide off his sixth ball. But Ireland will be content with a respectable start, with South Africa on 38-1 off seven overs. These lads are certainly happy.

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Holden in Sydney: "It's disappointing that this tournament is all about the coin toss, especially in the day/night games in Australia. or evenly matched teams, the one that wins the toss wins easily.

"As for this game, might as well pack up now, I'll stake my house on a SA victory now that they have won the toss."

Hashim Amla instantly makes Ireland pay for that dropped catch by hitting successive boundaries in the sixth over.

Alan Lewis
Ex-Ireland captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Amla flicked it hard off his legs. It was a sharp chance but it was straight to him in at short mid-wicket at knee height."

What a chance. Wasted. Hashim Amla flicks one to short mid-wicket where Ed Joyce is waiting. But he can't hold on to the opportunity.

It would have been a wicket for Kevin O'Brien with his first ball of the match. He is playing in his 87th one-day international, a new Ireland record. It would have been a lovely way to celebrate that landmark, but not to be.

Image source, Getty Images

Excellent from Mooney again. Only four off the over and he has figures of 1-4 off three overs.

He looks just like Rambo. Well, actually I don't think Sylvester Stallone wouldn't have got away with a bright green headband in the jungle.

But still, a very good start from Mooney.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Australia bowler Nathan Bracken:, external "Looking forward to this one. Ireland have been on fire. Now up against South Africa and the man of the moment AB de Villiers."

Max Sorensen's erratic start continues at the other end. He bowled three wides in his first over. And does the same in his second. Du Plessis also gets off the mark during the over, driving through cover for four.

Alan Lewis
Ex-Ireland captain on BBC Test Match Special

"If you're going to succeed in this tournament you've got to get wickets with the new ball."

Faf du Plessis is the next man in. And he is a man in form with scores of 55 and 62 in his last two innings. He cannot get off the mark with his first three balls and it is a wicket maiden from Mooney.

A perfect start from the Irish, but can they build on this?

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Lewis
Ex-Ireland captain on BBC Test Match Special

"You clearly see the deviation off the bat. You know that opening batsmen must be made to play as often as possible and John Mooney has been exemplary in his first nine deliveries - he has been on the money from the word go."

Listen to ball-by-ball TMS commentary by clicking on the audio icon.

It needs a review to clear it up, but Ireland are celebrating in only the third over. Mooney's delivery ends up in Gary Wilson's hands and it sounded like there was a noise.

The umpire gives nothing, but William Porterfield calls for a review. And it's a good decision. Replays show Quinton de Kock got a faint edge. And he is gone.

Scorecard

Image source, Getty Images

Unfortunately for Ireland, Max Sorensen's radar is not as accurate at the other end. He bowls three wides in his first over and Hashim Amla gets the first boundary of the match.

Standing outside leg stump, he moves across at the last minute and flicks it away leg side for four. Amla then hits another four sending his shot just wide of a diving William Porterfield.

Irvine Lehloo:, external The Irish are not to be underestimated. Hope South Africa give them due respect in a sporting game.

An early lesson there for me. Never mock someone in a bright green headband. John Mooney sends down a maiden over with Hashim Amla the man facing him.

Image source, AP

Off on your travels? Can't keep up with the live text? Want to know how the wickets are falling?

With the BBC Sport app you can set push alerts from all the sides taking part in the World Cup.

The app is already freely available from Google Play, external for Android devices, the App Store, external for iPhones, and the UK Amazon Kindle Fire Appstore, external.

And a scaled-back version is now available for Windows Phone users., external

Here we go. We are about to get under way in Canberra. John Mooney, wearing a luminous green head band, has the ball in his hand.

Very, er, fetching look from the Irish paceman.

Ireland captain William Porterfield: "We've come here to get through to the quarter-finals. We've just got to take each game as it comes.

"South Africa are a pretty good side and in good form, so we'll have to put them under pressure from the off."