IRE-W vs SA-W 1st ODI Match Highlights:
South Africa Women Cricket Team is on a long tour of Ireland to play 3-match T20I and 3-match ODI series. With the T20 series ending in the tourist’s favor, on Saturday, the teams played the first ODI to commence the 50-over game series. Here in this article, we talk about IRE-W vs SA-W 1st ODI Match Highlights.
In the game, Ireland was bowled out for 69 runs by South Africa, with eight of their 11 batters falling for single-digit scores. The innings, which lasted only 27.2 overs, featured four ducks as fast bowler Shabnim Ismail and legspinner Sune Luus went on a wicket-taking rampage.
The slaughter began almost immediately when Ireland won the toss and chose to bat, as they were quickly reduced to 14 for 4. There were no partnerships, the batters came in and went back. The team just could not handle how the Proteas were bowling. Only Shauna Kavanaugh (15), Sophie MacMahon (13), and Georgina Dempsey (19) scored in double figures as South Africa took command and never looked back.
There was some exceptional bowling from South Africa Women that will remain in their history. The duo Ayabonga Khaka and Sune Luus bowled such spells that would keep the audience spellbound. They were unstrikable. Khaka ended her day with bowling figures of 2 for 6 in 5.2 overs out of which 3 were maiden. Luus bowled 6 overs giving away just 16 runs and took 3 wickets. Similarly, Ismail bowled 6 overs in which she conceded 16 runs and took 3 wickets. There was no stopping the SA bowlers and they were the real heroes of the match.
Chasing mere 70 runs, it looked quite manageable for the South African team. Although Ireland did manage to pick up an early wicket – Laura Wolvaardt out for 8 in the fifth over – the chase was little more than a formality. Andrie Steyn and Lara Goodall had a partnership of 55 runs more to end the game. South Africa won by nine wickets and 204 balls with Steyn (21 not out) and Goodall (32 not out) ensuring there were no further problems.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Shabnim Ismail SA-W – 3/16
