Published: Mar 03, 2015, 06:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 03, 2015, 06:52 PM (IST)
A day’s break in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on Monday and the second phase of the tournament kicked-off on Tuesday with the Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland in Canberra. This was the third meeting between the two sides in World Cups and all the three have been won by the Proteas side. South Africa came in the match after thrashing West Indies in their previous game while Ireland came in the match after two wins in the tournament. South Africa got the better of Ireland as they beat the associate nation by 201 runs. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full coverage)
South Africa had won the toss and chose to bat first. Wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock’s (1) poor run in the World Cup continued as he departed in the third over. A record breaking 247-runs partnership between Hashim Amla (159 in 128 balls) and Faf du Plessis (109 in 109 balls) put the South Africans in total command; Amla achieved his career-best score in the process. AB de Villiers (24 in 9 balls) started to go berserk but got out quickly before an unbeaten 110-run partnership between Rilee Rossouw (61* in 30 balls) and David Miller (46* in 23 balls) got them to a mammoth total of 411 runs for four wickets in 50 overs. This is the second time that the Proteas crossed the 400 mark in the World Cup after their 408 in their previous match against West Indies. Irish bowlers had a tough day in office as only spinner George Dockrell (naught for 56) went under six an over in his quota of 10 overs. Andy McBrine (two for 63) was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets of Amla and de Villiers in the same over. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Points Table)
Ireland, on the other hand, never got going with their chase. They were five down for just 48 on board and had to play the catch-up game from then on. A recovery partnership of 81-runs between Andrew Balbirnie (58) and Kevin O’Brien (48) was not enough in the end as Ireland were bundled out for 210 runs in 45 overs. George Dockrell (25) and Max Sorensen (22) contributed a bit with the bat but the Irish were far from winning as they lost by a huge margin of 201 runs. Kyle Abbott (four for 21) was the chief destroyer while Morne Morkel (three for 34) provided an able support. Dale Steyn playing his 100th One-Day International (ODI) also picked up two for 39. Even the ‘all-rounder’ Ab de Villiers bowled two overs picking up a wicket for seven runs.
Hashim Amla was adjudged the Man of the Match for his career-best 159 runs in just 128 balls. He also took a super catch when the ball stuck in his armpit.
The Proteas steady their ship in the points table behind India with six points while Ireland moves down to the fourth position with four points. South Africa next faces Pakistan on March 7 while Ireland on the same day plays Zimbabwe.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 411 for four in 50 overs (Hashim Amla 159, Faf du Plessis 109, Rilee Roussouw 61*; Andy McBrine 2-63) bt Ireland 210 all out in 45 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 58, Kevin O’Brien 48; Kyle Abbott 4-21, Mornel Morkel 3-34) – by 201 runs.
