Curtis Campher fell one run short of marking his 100th appearance for Ireland with a half-century in Abu Dhabi last night before South Africa cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare in the first of two one-day internationals.
Campher was the mainstay of the Ireland innings with 49 from 36 balls, and Neil Rock took his chance with 37, but a total of 171-8 was demolished by South Africa after their openers crashed 136 from 13 overs.
Ireland’s plan to open with Lorcan Tucker had to be put on hold after the wicketkeeper sustained an injury in training, and with Andy Balbirnie not in the T20 squad, Ross Adair was drafted in, and helped give the Boys in Green a fast start.
At 64-3 in the seventh over, Rock, who deputised for Tucker behind the stumps, joined Campher and the fourth-wicket pair added a further 59 from 41 balls to set up the perfect platform for a late onslaught.
Rock showed why he had been promised games as a batsman on the tour, striking four boundaries and a maximum, while Campher also cleared the ropes and added six fours in a typically busy knock against the country of his birth.
But after the adopted Irishman fell in the 18th over, only 13 runs were added from the final 15 balls, and the only positive to draw from Ireland’s attempt to defend came from left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys, who conceded 28 from his four overs.