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In the third One Day International against South Africa, Ireland prevailed consolingly thanks to half-centuries from captain Paul Stirling and Harry Tector as well as an all-around bowling performance. In the format, this was only Ireland’s second victory over South Africa.
Ireland won the toss and, after putting on their finest batting showing of the series, their bowlers took advantage of the accommodating conditions under the lights.
In his second ODI, Jason Smith scored a valiant 91, but it was in naught as Ireland easily defeated South Africa’s top five in just 20 overs.
Ireland was forced to bat under the lights during the past two ODIs, and they collapsed miserably. However, South Africa discovered on Monday just how unique the experience of batting second has been in Abu Dhabi.
Ireland’s quicks made early gains after their batters got them to a competitive total, with the new ball swinging noticeably more under lights than in the previous two games (broadcast showed average swing of 2.1 degrees on Monday compared to 1.1 over the previous two games). In the first over, Mark Adair got Ryan Rickelton to edge to the slips cordon, and three overs later, he trapped Rassie van der Dussen in front.
After Temba Bavuma was injured, Reeza Hendricks, who was brought in from South Africa, was dismissed after just seven balls when he edged Graham Hume to Andy Balbirnie at second slip.
Despite counterattacking with six boundaries, Kyle Verreyne was stranded leg before wicket for 38 after Craig Young misplayed his flick and went across the stumps. Smith and Tristan Stubbs attempted to regroup, but in the twentieth over, Young got the latter out of the game with a harmless length ball.
Smith and Andile Phehlukwayo put up another fight, but the latter scuffed a pull to fine leg to give Fionn Hand his first wicket in an ODI on his debut.
Smith then assumed control of the score, dominating the off side driving but losing companions on the opposite end. Matthew Humphreys, a left-arm spinner, bowled Bjorn Fortuin after he lingered. Then, as Williams attempted to ramp a short ball, Young had him edge it to the keeper.
After reaching his first international half-century, Smith also hit Young and Adair over the leg side for a couple of sixes. In the 43rd over, he started his eighty with a strong flick that was wide of long-on off Adair. He then flicked him through midwicket for another boundary. He advanced quickly into the nineties and ended the over by smashing the fast bowler over wide far on.
As the batsman sliced a wide yorker from Hume, Adair ended Smith’s resistance by catching him at deep point, giving him the last laugh. After hitting a duck in his ODI debut, he amassed 93 from 93 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Hume closed up the win when he had Lungi Ngidi edging behind with 23 balls to go.