ODI cricket: Skipper Paul Stirling’s 88 helps Ireland beat South Africa to finish losing series on high

Third ODI, Abu Dhabi

Ireland 284 (50 overs): Stirling 88, Tector 60; Williams 4-56

South Africa 215 (46.1 overs): Smith 91; Young 4-40, Hume 3-39

Ireland won by 69 runs

Scoreboard

Ireland beat South Africa for just a second time in a one-day international as Paul Stirling’s 88 helped his side to a 69-run win in the last of their meetings in Abu Dhabi.

Ireland’s only previous victory over South Africa in the format came at Malahide in Dublin back in July 2021.

The Proteas won last Wednesday’s opener by 139 runs and clinched the series two days later with a 174-run triumph.

Ireland had been bowled out for fewer than 168 runs in both those defeats but, having won the toss, set their opposition a target of 285.

Captain Stirling top-scored with 88, notching his 30th ODI half-century in an innings which included eight fours and three sixes.

He and fellow opener Andrew Balbirnie put on a century partnership before Lizaad Williams removed the latter on 45 for the first of his four wickets.

With Ireland steadily building a score, Harry Tector added 60 before he was run out in the final over of the innings.

South Africa’s response began in calamitous fashion as a pair of Mark Adair wickets with the new ball contributed to a 10-3 start.

Kyle Verreynne and Tristan Stubbs brought a measure of stability but, when Craig Young took the prized wicket of the latter for 20, they had fallen to 79-5.

After a duck on his ODI debut against Afghanistan last month, Jason Smith got into a groove to offer sustained resistance, but fell for 91 off 93 balls when caught by Adair on the boundary off the bowling of Graham Hume.

Down to their last wicket, South Africa’s challenge ended when Hume got Lungi Ngidi to edge into the hands of Lorcan Tucker.

This was Ireland final fixture of a year in which they also secured Test wins over Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

And Monday’s triumph – coupled with a first T20 win over South Africa – ensured they were victorious in two of their five matches on the trip.