After an exuberant T20 win on Sunday, it was back to earth for Ireland in the one-day international in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
In scorching heat – 41C at the start of play – Heinrich Malan’s side went down to a 139-run defeat after being dismissed for 132, their lowest total in the nine games between the sides.
Besides the match-winning partnership, Ireland’s bowlers kept the heat on, but were let down by their fielders.
The TV commentators reckoned nine or 10 catches were dropped, although no blame can be attached to Andrew Balbirnie, who equalled his own Irish record of four catches in an innings, three off Mark Adair.
On a day when Ireland skipper Paul Stirling became the first Irish sportsman or woman to play 400 times for his country, he could not inspire his side, losing his wicket for 2 as the South African pace attack extracted some revenge for the T20 mauling.
Stirling took the result on the chin, remarking: ‘It was a tough defeat tonight. I think it did a couple of things which I didn’t expect. It did nip around.
‘There were a few disappointing things, and I hope we can turn up better on Friday. When you have a side three down, we needed to take our chances.’
Losing the toss did not help, with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs scoring career-best half-centuries to dig South Africa out of trouble in the first of three ODIs in Abu Dhabi.
After electing to bat, South Africa slipped to 39-3 before lefthander Rickelton scored 91 from 102 balls and Stubbs 79 from 86 to rescue the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 152 as they posted a par score of 271-9.
Mark Adair took 4-50 and Craig Young 3-45 as Ireland bowled well on a seaming wicket, bar the stand between Rickelton and Stubbs.
Ireland awarded a cap to Trinity and Pembroke leg-spinner Gavin Hoey but the conditions did not suit him, and his return of 0-60 did not reflect his efforts.
‘I am delighted with how he went especially against a strong opposition,’ said Stirling.
As night fell and the dew settled in, South Africa’s pace attack took advantage of the conditions and never let Ireland build momentum, taking wickets at regular intervals as they reduced their opponents to 61 for five and eventually 132 all out.
George Dockrell top scored in the innings with 21, and seamer Lizaad Williams took career-best figures of 4-32.
South Africa, who have rested several regulars for the series, play Ireland again tomorrow before a series finale on Monday.