IRE-W vs SA-W, 3rd ODI Review - South Africa wrap up ODI series with massive win at Clontarf

DUBLIN – South Africa cruised to a 189-run win over Ireland in the final One-Day International of , bowling the hosts out for 89.

Shabnim Ismail continued her immense form in the series, taking four wickets inside the first seven overs of the Ireland innings to derail a chase of 279 after Laura Wolvaardt (89) and Sune Luus (93) had starred with the bat.

Luus won the toss and chose to bat first, but it was Ireland who began brightly, limiting the visitors to 16 runs inside the first five overs before the breakthrough arrived in the sixth: Andrie Steyn was run out after an excellent direct hit from Sophie MacMahon caught the batter short trying to get to the non-striker’s end.

That brought the in-form Lara Goodall to the crease, but the left-hander perished for 18 looking to play the big shot; she advanced down the ground to Rachel Delaney but failed to connect and Mary Waldron did the rest behind the stumps.

At 57-2 in the 14th over, South Africa weren’t in trouble, but neither were they in the most comfortable spot. But Wolvaardt and Luus rebuilt the innings; the former advanced to her half-century off 79 balls, while the latter brought up the same landmark from 70 balls. Together their partnership was worth 177, the fifth-highest for South Africa in women’s ODIs.

Jane Maguire provided a much-needed wicket in the 45th over, with Wolvaardt departing 11 runs short of what would have been her fourth ODI century. Chloe Tryon came in to hit some quick runs and managed 17 off 12 before hitting Arlene Kelly to mid-off from her 13th delivery.

Kelly then denied Luus a century as she finished with figures of 2-40 from her 10 overs.

Ireland’s chase got off to a perilous start as Ismail – who had taken six wickets across the previous two ODIs – had both Gaby Lewis and Rachel Delany caught behind for ducks in her opening over.

Ismail’s scintillating new-ball spell then accounted for Leah Paul in the fifth over, and Shauna Kavanagh was bowled for 10-ball duck in the seventh over to leave Ireland reeling on 8-4.

Ismail looked set to complete her five-wicket haul in the Powerplay, when MacMahon edged to second slip in the ninth over – but the catch went down. Nonetheless, Raisibe Ntozakhe accounted for MacMahon not long after to leave Ireland 13-5.

From there Ireland were rescued by Mary Waldron and Kelly, with the pair putting on 57 for the sixth wicket. But Luus continued her excellent all-round day by having Waldron adjudged lbw for 32. Wickets continued to tumble as Ireland fell from 70-5 to 89 all out, with Ismail fittingly taking the final wicket to finish with incredible figures of 5-8 from 8.5 overs, including four maidens.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Women v South Africa Women, 3rd ODI, Clontarf, 17 June 2022

South Africa 278-5 (50 overs; S Luus 93, L Wolvaardt 89; A Kelly 2-40)

Ireland 89 (32.5 overs; M Waldron 32, A Kelly 29; S Ismail 5-8)

South Africa won by 189 runs