South Africa cruise past Ireland to complete series sweep in one-day international series

South Africa cruised to a 189-run win over Ireland in the final match of their one-day International series, bowling the hosts out for 89.

Shabnim Ismail continued her immense form, taking four wickets inside the first seven overs of the Ireland innings to derail a chase of 279 after Laura Wolvaardt (89) and Sune Luus (93) had starred with the bat.

Luus won the toss and chose to bat first but it was Ireland who began brightly, limiting the visitors to 16 runs inside the first five overs before the breakthrough arrived in the sixth. Andrie Steyn was run out after an excellent direct hit from Sophie MacMahon caught the batter short trying to get to the non-striker's end.

That brought the in-form Lara Goodall to the crease, but the left-hander perished for 18 looking to play the big shot. She advanced down the ground to Rachel Delaney but failed to connect and Mary Waldron did the rest behind the stumps.

At 57-2 in the 14th over, South Africa weren’t in trouble, but neither were they in the most comfortable spot. But Wolvaardt and Luus rebuilt the innings, the former advancing to her half-century off 79 balls, while the latter brought up the same landmark from 70 balls.

Together their partnership was worth 177, the fifth-highest for South Africa in women’s ODIs.

Jane Maguire provided a much-needed wicket in the 45th over, with Wolvaardt departing 11 runs short of what would have been her fourth ODI century. Chloe Tryon came in to hit some quick runs and managed 17 off 12 before hitting Arlene Kelly to mid-off from her 13th delivery.

Kelly then denied Luus a century as she finished with figures of 2-40 from her 10 overs.

Ireland’s chase got off to a perilous start as Ismail – who had taken six wickets across the previous two ODIs –