Ireland delivered their best batting display of the tour – and highest score ever against South Africa – but fell to defeat in second one-day international of the three-match series.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a batter-friendly pitch, but the early going belied this impression as Ireland's opening bowlers - Orla Prendergast and Jane Maguire – restrained the attack-minded South Africa openers.
In fact, in the sixth over it was Maguire who made the opening breakthrough, trapping Tasmin Brits in front for six, leaving the home side on 17-1 and looking unprepared for batting on what revealed itself as a two-pace pitch.
Maguire’s sister, Aimee, claimed the next wicket, bowling Louisa Goodall for 12 and the South Africans were 59-2 after 11 overs.
However, the entrance of Sune Luus to the crease changed the momentum of the entire game dramatically. Luus decided to attack from the off, and she combined with Wolvaardt in a 179-run stand for the third wicket – both batters passing the century mark with aplomb.
Wolvaardt struck 124 from 111 balls, and Luus 114 from 113 balls, as the Irish bowlers struggled with answers on the gradually flattening track, combined with several dropped catches in the outfield.
When Wolvaardt eventually fell – caught overhead of the long-off boundary by Rebecca Stokell off Aimee Maguire – Dane Van Niekerk came to the crease and there was no reprieve from the rapid scoring rate.
Van Niekerk’s assault – 88 runs from 49 balls – pushed the home side above 350 and, at one stage, threatened to reach 400.
Jane Maguire returned with the ball and removed Van Niekerk and Maine Smits (4) and the South African innings came to a close on 375-6 from 50 overs.
Needing what would have amounted to as a world-record run chase, the Irish response got off to the worst possible start with Sarah Forbes (0) slapping a ball square, but a diving catch by the South African gully fielder saw Forbes unluckily having to return to the pavilion without scoring.
Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter showed their grit with q sprightly 77-run stand in 12 overs. Lewis struck 8 boundaries in her innings for 45, before she was caught at deep mid-wicket from a mistimed pull shot.
Hunter soon after brought up her seventh ODI half-century from 54 balls and looked settled in to make it a big knock. She was joined by Prendergast, who immediately looked comfortable and soon found the boundary to continue the scoring momentum.
On 64, Hunter was adjudged LBW and Laura Delany came out to the middle. Her stay didn’t last long however, unfortunate to be given out with a strong suggestion that the ball may have hit thigh pad rather than bat.
Prendergast began to up and scoring rate and needed a partner to go with her. Enter Leah Paul, the Merrion left-hander played the perfect foil, scoring 35 from 36 balls as part of an 80-run stand in 569 balls.
Prendergast’s half-century came off 50 balls and from there took advantage of some increasingly wayward home side bowling.
At 251-4 in the 40th over, Ireland still looked unlikely to pull off an incredible run-chase, but the belief that they were still in the game lifted hopes of a dramatic conclusion.
However, Paul fell in the 40th over and Prendergast, desperately close to what would have been a well-deserved century, was caught at deep mid-wicket for 97.
Once Paul and Prendergast had departed, the inevitable came soon after – despite Arlene Kelly’s 14-ball 20 – and the Irish side was bowled out for 301 from 47.5 overs.
This was the fifth-highest team total Ireland Women had ever scored in ODIs, and the second-highest against a full member. It is also the sixth-highest team total scored in women’s ODIs in a losing cause.
With an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series with one to play, South Africa host Ireland on Friday at Johannesburg.
