Harry Tector hit 20 against South Africa. Photo: Sportsfile.
Paul Stirling lost his fourth consecutive toss at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday to condemn Ireland to another hot, sweaty four hours in the field, and ultimately, a 174-run loss to South Africa in the second of three one-day internationals.
The skipper’s resigned look and slump of the shoulders said it all as South Africa chose to bat on an unresponsive pitch in mid-afternoon temperatures in Abu Dhabi hovering around 40 degrees Celsius.
Leg-spinner Gavin Hoey claimed his first international wicket when Rassie van der Dussen pulled a short ball on to his own boot and it dribbled back to dislodge the bails, while Andy McBrine took 1-43 from a tidy set of 10 overs.
The seamers, used in short spells, somehow kept going, but even the usually effervescent Mark Adair looked flat and defeated as Tristan Stubbs finished on 112 not out from 81 balls in a mammoth total for these parts of 343-4.
A quick shower and change of kit and veteran openers Stirling and Andy Balbirnie were on their way back to the middle to face a fresh attack with the ball nipping around under the early evening lights. Both were gone within 2.2 overs.
Harry Tector reached 20 for the first time in 12 innings but went no farther, while Adair, Hoey, Graham Hume and Craig Young all cleared the ropes before the end came in the 31st over when Ireland were bowled out for 169 to go 2-0 down in the series.
Would the result have been different if the Boys in Green had batted first? Possibly not, as this is a young and hungry South African team. But it would have been closer, a lot closer.
Stirling can only hope his luck changes when the coin goes up before the dead rubber on Monday.