South Africa eased to an eight-wicket win in the deciding T20 international against Ireland despite a sterling half-century stand between Gaby Lewis and Shauna Kavanagh, sealing a 2-1 victory in the HBV Studios International Women's Cricket Series at Pembroke Cricket Club.
Ireland captain Lewis opened the batting with Leah Paul but could only watch on as two early wickets fell, South Africa skipper Sune Luus having won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Paul faced the first nine deliveries of the game, striking a sweet straight drive for four before edging Ayabonga Khaka to Luus at slip next ball.
Mary Waldron came and went for two, lbw to the left-arm spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Kavanagh joined Lewis with Ireland 11-2 and in trouble.
The pair stitched together an excellent partnership, counter-attacking and rotating the strike in equal measure.
By the time the 50 stand was brought up 5.5 overs later, the pair had struck five boundaries between them, facing just nine dot balls in that time.
However, the Proteas hit back, building up the pressure with two boundary-less overs, and reaping the reward with the wicket of Lewis, who lofted Mlaba to long-on for 29.
For a time, it looked as if Kavanagh would carry on to a score of substance, with Rachel Delaney playing her part in another useful stand.
After 14 overs, Ireland was 88-3 and well set for a strong finish, but the reintroduction of Nadine de Klerk, whose first two overs had gone for 14, changed the game.
Kavanagh, who had judged her running well up until that point, was run out returning for a second after an accurate throw from Tumi Sekhukhune, and another excellent piece of fielding accounted for Arlene Kelly, who looked to have chipped over the bowler from her first
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