Ireland v South Africa June 24th, 2007Stormont, Belfast

THE game at Stormont the ODI debut of Alex Cusack, who went on to take the man-of-the-match honours despite being on the losing side.

The game only got under way at 4pm due to rain and was reduced to 31 overs a side, with Ireland putting the tourists in. Former Carrickfergus player AB de Villiers made a quick-fire 40 off 35 balls, while knocks of 52 from fellow opener Morne van Wyk and 46 from Jacques Kallis helped South Africa make 173 for four. Cusack struck late on in their innings to take three wickets for 15.

Despite a 45-run opening stand between William Porterfield and Kenny Carroll, Ireland struggled with Vernon Philander (four for 12) and Dale Steyn (two for 30) doing most of the damage. Cusack finished unbeaten on 36 as Ireland were bowled out for 131.

Scoreboard

South Africa 173-4 (31 overs) (Morne van Wyk 52, J Kallis 46, AB de Villiers 40; Alex Cusack 3 for 15)

Ireland 131 (30.5 overs) (A Cusack 36 not out, Kenny Carroll 21, Vernon Philander 4 for 12, Dale Steyn 2 for 30).

South Africa won by 42 runs.

April 3rd, 2007

World Cup Super Eights

Georgetown, Guyana

IRELAND skipper Trent Johnston lost a vital toss on a cloudy morning in Georgetown and after being put in lost opener Jeremy Bray for a duck to Shaun Pollard before rain sees them leave the field three times.

They had reached 23 for one in the 11th over when a considerable break saw the match reduced to 35 overs, leaving Ireland at a serious disadvantage under Duckworth Lewis calculations.

They managed to make 152 with Andrew White top-scoring with 30 and Eoin Morgan 28.

South Africa only had eight runs added to their target and despite De Villiers going for a duck to Boyd Rankin they got home with 21 balls to spare on the back of an undefeated 66 from Kallis, who shared an unbeaten 80-run partnership with Aswell Prince.

Scoreboard

Ireland 152-8 (35 overs) (Andrew White 30, Eoin Morgan 28, Niall O’Brien 25; Charl Langeveldt 3 for 41, Shaun Pollock 2 for 17, Andre Hall 2 for 37)

South Africa (D/L target of 160 in 35 overs) 165-3 (31.3 ovs) (Jacques Kallis 66 not out, Ashwell Prince 47 not out, Graeme Smith 41; Boyd Rankin 2 for 26).

South Africa won by

seven wickets (D/L).

– Emmet Riordan