Abu Dhabi: Mark Adair took four more wickets for Ireland but it wasn’t enough this time as South Africa won the opening cricket match of their ODI series by 139 runs.
South Africa scored 271-9 thanks to opener Ryan Rickelton’s 91 runs in 102 balls — with three sixes and seven fours — and 79 from Tristan Stubbs after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the first of three one-day internationals.
Rickelton and Stubbs put on a 152-run partnership for the fourth wicket as they helped the Proteas recover from an early innings collapse.
Lizaad Williams then tore through Ireland’s top-order, taking three wickets in an eight-over opening spell as they Irish slumped to be five down inside the first 15-overs.
Williams ended with 4-32, his best ODI figures from his five matches played, with Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin taking a further two wickets apiece as Ireland was bowled out for 132 in 31.5 overs in reply.
George Dockrell top-scored for the Irish with 21 off 32 balls.
Earlier, Adair claimed 4-50 off 10 overs. That followed the seamer’s standout performance on Sunday when Ireland achieved its first-ever Twenty20 cricket victory against South Africa in the second match of the T20 series, which ended 1-1. Adair took 4-31 in four overs in that match.
Like the T20 games, the ODI series is taking place in Abu Dhabi.
