After an impressive batting performance from Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan, a spirited effort with the ball from the Proteas successfully squared the ODI series against Ireland with a 70-run win.

Having chosen to bat first, the visitors didn’t hesitate to pile the runs on the board. The 225-run stand between Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock is now the 5th-best opening partnership for South Africa, and Malan’s unbeaten 177 is South Africa’s 4th-best individual score in the format.

South Africa started off with the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, who hit the ground running with two priceless early inroads: the usually aggressive Paul Stirling and the in-form captain, Andrew Balbirnie. The early success continued, as the debutant seamer, Lizaad Williams came in at first change and struck on his first ball to dismiss Andy McBrine.

It was time for Ireland to rebuild the innings, and just when Harry Tector looked set, he was trapped lbw off Tabraiz Shamsi. Andile Phehlukwayo joined the wicket-takers, as he dismissed George Dockrell and Lorcan Tucker in quick succession, but even at 6 down, the hosts were not going to fold without a fight.

Curtis Campher and Simi Singh did well to dig in before punctuating their century stand with boundaries to stay in contention, albeit just barely. Campher had a more circumspect start, but Singh peppered the boundary regularly. Singh survived two lbw appeals, but the promising stand came to an end when Campher, in the quest of quick runs, mistimed a leg-side slog to Malan, giving Phehlukwayo his third wicket of the game.

The asking rate had already crossed two runs a ball, and the target seemed to be out of reach. Shamsi was re-introduced in the 42nd over, and took the wickets of Mark Adair and Josh Little, leaving the hosts nine down.

Singh managed to bring up his maiden ODI century and was a constant thorn in South Africa’s side. He brought up the historical 100 in 91 balls, setting the highest score as a No 8 in ODI history.

The following ball, Anrich Nortje got the wicket of Young, to seal a 70-run win.

SA 346/4 in 50 overs
IRE 276 all out in 47.1 overs (Singh 100* – Shamsi 10-0-46-3, Phehlukwayo 10-0-56-3)