http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 vs. Ireland: Second innings - Part 2 – ICC World Cup 2011 Recap
The required run rate was steadily rising and after 20 overs it was at 6.26 runs needed from every over, or just over a run a ball.
The 22nd over was one for the Irish to forget. First, Kevin O’Brien was sent packing when his sliced shot fell comfortably in the hands of Hashim Amla, as Gary http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wilson-c98046 was out for 31 after being given leg before wicket two balls later.
It should have been three wickets in the over, but Kallis dropped the catch at first slip when John Mooney tried to play Peterson’s delivery. Alex Cusack and Mooney could not get a partnership going either, as Cusack departed for seven runs. Graeme Smith
took a comfortable catch at cover, as the Proteas were now looking certain of booking their place in the knock out stage of the competition.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Dockrell-c59135 entered
the fray with the Irish needing 7.30 runs an over after 30 overs being bowled.
Mooney was the next to go as Ireland’s desperation began to show. Kallis added another wicket to his tally, as a lack of footwork from the batsman resulted in contact between bat and ball before the ball was safely in the hands of the keeper van Wyk once
again.
Three balls later, Dockrell departed as well, after hitting Morkel for a boundary off the first ball of the over, something the Irish needed plenty of with the required run rate reading eight runs an over. Dockrell did what he had to and ironically the South
Africans knew that consistent hard hitting from the Irish will mean opportunities for wickets.
Van Wyk made a splendid catch, as the keeper was on all fours after collecting the ball and Morkel added another wicket to his tally.
South Africa won the match by a comfortable 131 run margin. The result secured their place in the quarter-finals and a step towards finally winning their first World Cup.
Morkel and Peterson were the pick of the South African bowlers with three wickets each, as Duminy was awarded Man of the Match for his 99 run innings.
Ireland can take heart from their performances in the ICC World Cup 2011 and one can expect big things from them in the future.
Tags: