Stubbs ton powers Proteas to competitive total

Tristan Stubbs smashed a fabulous century and Kyle Verreynne contributed an impressive half century in a strong top-order performance as South Africa piled up a total of 343 for four after choosing to bat first in the second one-day international against Ireland at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Verreynne replaced the injured Tony de Zorzi in the top order, with captain Temba Bavuma moving from No 3 to opener, and took his chance with an accomplished 67 from 64 balls while Stubbs was in glorious form during his maiden international hundred, finishing unbeaten on 112 from 81 deliveries with eight fours and three sixes.

Stubbs' red-hot form for the @ProteasMenCSA continues 💯🔥

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Ryan Rickelton (40 from 39 balls) and Bavuma added 61 in the Power Play before the captain injured his elbow diving into his crease to complete a second run and was forced to retire hurt on 35 from 39 balls with four fours and a six.

The openers both hit seamer Craig Young for six in the 10th over with 17 runs accruing to turn a modest Power Play into a good one, Rickelton driving over long off while Bavuma used his feet and flicked handsomely over the midwicket boundary.

A sharp return catch from allrounder Curtis Campher ended Rickelton’s innings but Rassie van der Dussen continued the steady progress with 35 from 39 balls (3x4) before dragging a long hop from legspinner Gavin Hoey onto his leg stump.

Verreynne charged down the wicket to offspinner Andy McBrine (10-0-43-1) but the ball slid straight on and into the gloves of Stephen Doheny who completed a simple stumping.

SHOT OF THE INNINGS

Stubbs played the shot of the innings against Hoey with a punched six over extra cover off the back foot and charged towards his century with a third maximum pulled over midwicket against South African-born seamer Graham Hume.

In ferocious heat and humidity, Stubbs briefly appeared to lose his rhythm towards the end of the innings but overcame some skilled death bowling to charge past his previous career-best of 79 to complete his first international century from just 75 balls with a four and single off seamer Mark Adair in the 48th over.

Wiaan Mulder accelerated in impressive style after a cautious start to finish with 43 from 34 balls (3x4, 1x6) before holing out to long on, but by then Irish heads had dropped and what will almost certainly be a winning score had been secured.

Ireland named an unchanged XI from the first match which South Africa won by 139 runs at the same venue on Wednesday. The third game will also be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Monday.

Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Andy Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Stephen Doheny (wkt), George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Craig Young, Graham Hume, Gavin Hoey.

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.