Mlaba grabs three wickets as Ireland restricted to 209 in first women’s ODI

Nonkululeko Mlaba, the second highest wicket-taker in world ODI cricket this year with 33 scalps, exploited the slow conditions at Buffalo Park to perfection, claiming 3/43 in 10 overs as she helped restrict Ireland to 209 for seven in the first women’s ODI in East London on Saturday.

Bowling slow, looping deliveries on the dry track, South Africa’s premier spinner constantly flummoxed the Irish batters, particularly in her second spell as she got some bounce and turn. The left-arm tweaker bowled the delivery of the innings when she bowled the threatening Laura Delaney with the ball pitching on middle-and-leg and just clipping the off bail.

Nevertheless, the Irish women looked better suited to the longer white-ball format after South Africa’s dominant victories in the T20I series.

Play started 90 minutes late after some of the heavy rain on Friday found its way onto the pitch. As a result the match was restricted to 47 overs per side.

Openers Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis made a solid start to the Irish innings after the visitors had won the toss and decided to bat first, usually the winning move at Buffalo Park.

Eliz-Mari Marx was on point in her opening spell, but it was pace bowler Tumi Sekhukhune who made the breakthrough at 45 in the 12th over when she nipped one through the gate to dismiss Lewis for 14. The arrival of an aggressive Amy Hunter helped to increase the run-rate as she and Forbes added 48 for the second wicket before Forbes (42 in 71 balls) was beaten in the air by a slow, looping delivery from spinner Sune Luus and trapped leg before.

Hunter’s wicket was key for South Africa and offspinner Miane Smit procured it when she drew the batter down the wicket to a wider delivery that she could only chip to mid-off.

With Mlaba and Luus tying up the Irish batters, only Rebecca Stokell, unbeaten on 39 in 48 balls, helped the Irish past the 200 mark, the home team managing to restrict their opponents to a modest four an over for most of the innings. Nevertheless, the Irish will have been pleased to have compiled their second highest total against South Africa in ODI cricket.

SOUTH AFRICA W: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk, Miane Smit, Karabo Meso (wk), Mari Marx, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayanda Hlubi, Nonkululeko Mlaba

IRELAND W: Gaby Lewis (capt), Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter (wk), Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Lea Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray, Georgina Dempsey, Lara McBride