South Africa will be playing men’s ODIs in Ireland for the first time in 14 years when they take on the hosts in the Super League series at Malahide from 11th July. Back in 2007, the Proteas had played three matches against India at Belfast, following a one-off match with Ireland. Overall, Ireland have faced the African powerhouse only five times in this format so far. Here is a look back at those instances.
Calm Kallis guides the Proteas – World Cup Super Eight Stage, Providence, 2006-07
Ireland had given South Africa a scare in a warm-up match before embarking upon their dream inaugural World Cup campaign, during which they beat Pakistan and Bangladesh and tied with Zimbabwe. But the Proteas dictated terms in this Super Eight encounter in Guyana.
Ireland were restricted to 152/8 in the rain-reduced 35 overs. Boyd Rankin scalped AB de Villiers for a duck in the first over, before Jacques Kallis came in and went on to score a solid 66*. South Africa achieved their D/L target of 160 in the 32nd over with seven wickets intact.
Cusack and Philander impress on debut – Only ODI, Belfast, 2007
Less than three months after their first meeting in the Caribbean, the two green-clad outfits were involved in another rain-hit ODI. This time it was a 31-over tussle at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont. The South African top order flourished, carrying the total to 173/4.
Debutant Alex Cusack, later named Man of the Match, was the standout bowler. The seam-bowling all-rounder came on as fifth-change and collected 3/15. He also top-scored with 36* as Ireland caved in for 131 in the 31st over. Vernon Philander, another debutant, bagged 4/12.
Duminy makes the difference – World Cup Group Stage, Kolkata, 2010-11
A couple of weeks earlier, Ireland had provided the most sensational result of the tournament by stunning England at Bangalore. They gave the South Africans a glimpse of their giant-killing ability as well, reducing them to a wobbly 117/5 in the 27th over at the Eden Gardens.
Hashim Amla, captain Graeme Smith, and Kallis were all back in the hut, and Ireland had a great chance to turn the screws. However, JP Duminy swung the game around, smashing 99 from 103 balls to boost South Africa to 272/7. Ireland were bowled out for just 141 in reply.
Amla’s career-best leads a rout – World Cup Group Stage, Canberra, 2014-15
Amla put on 247 with Faf du Plessis (109) for the second wicket on his way to a career-best 159 in 128 balls, before skipper de Villiers (24 in nine balls), David Miller (46 in 23) and Rilee Rossouw (61 in 30) upped the ante to send the scoreboard galloping towards a massive 411/4.
Further misery was in store for Ireland, as Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott (4/21) had them reeling at 48/5. Andrew Balbirnie (58) and Kevin O’Brien (48) ensured that they reached 210, but this big defeat would cost them a potential quarterfinal spot by virtue of net run rate.
A hundred on debut for Bavuma – Only ODI, Benoni, 2016
Prior to an ODI series with Australia that they would go on to sweep 5-0, South Africa continued their dominance against Ireland with another thumping win, the highlight of which was Temba Bavuma becoming the second South African to register a hundred on ODI debut.
Quinton de Kock (82) and Bavuma (113) added 159 for the opening wicket in 24 overs, after which Duminy (52) and Farhaan Behardien (50* in just 22 balls) helped swell the total to 354/5. Duminy also claimed 4/16 with his off-spin, hastening Ireland’s slide to 148 in the 31st over.
The Cricket Cauldron 