A gritty innings from JP Duminy helped offset a careless start by South Africa in their key Group B World Cup match here on Tuesday.
South Africa posted 272/7 with Duminy falling agonisingly short of a richly deserved century in the final over. Duminy’s 99 came off 103 balls and included six fours and a six and came after a top order collapse that saw South Africa in a hole at 117/5 just after the halfway mark.
Duminy shared a vital partnership of 87 for the sixth wicket with Colin Ingram – a late replacement for AB de Villiers – which helped put South Africa back in control of the innings after the Irish spinners Paul Stirling and George Dockrell had tied them in knots at the start.
South Africa were put into bat, and were off to a shaky start against a committed Irish team, whose fielding – but for a couple of catches being dropped – was very sharp indeed. There was also lots of loose play from the South Africans, whether it be the running between the wickets or some of the shot selection.
Hashim Amla’s infuriating tendency of late to over-attack again cost him his wicket. He’d smashed Boyd ranking for a four and then a six and then slashed the fourth ball of the fith over to third man where Dockrell held a good catch.
Wickets began falling at regular intervals thereafter, Smith, who again looked shaky was run out when he was initially called and then sent back by Morne van Wyk who was promoted up the order to bat at no.3. Van Wyk’s was one of the stranger innings of the tournament, it was full of intent though his execution was occasionally questionable. He was dropped twice, hit seven fours and a six, ran out his captain and then went to cut a ball that wasn’t there to cut to be dismissed for 42.
Jacques Kallis was run out soon after for 19 and when Faf du Plessis was snapped up at slip by Trent Johnson, it was Ireland who were on top, with SA 117/5.
De Villiers’ absence due to a thigh strain gave Ingram his chance and he took it beautifully playing some delightful late cuts in an innings that was largely without risk. He made 46 off 43 balls with seven fours, in an invaluable partnership with Duminy who was playing the anchor role effectively.
Ingram was bowled by one from Johnson that kept low, but then Johan Botha partnered Duminy to another 50 partnership as SA posted what appeared a very good total.
Duminy perished looking for a big shot in the final over, making the necessary sacrifice for his side instead of chasing personal glory.
For the Irish the spinner starred, Dockrell finished with 1/37 and Stirling 1/45.
