Proteas make merry of Irish, beat them by seven wickets

South Africa made merry of an inexperienced bowling attack to comprehensively beat Ireland by seven wickets and earn two crucial points in their Super Eight tie at the Providence stadium here.

After some initial hiccups, Jacques Kallis (66) made all the difference for South Africa at the end as he built two good partnerships -- with captain Graeme Smith(41) and then with Ashwell Prince(47) -- to take his team home.

The Proteas were given a revised target of 160 though Ireland scored 152 for eight in their essay, by applying Duckworth-Lewis as rain interrupted the Ireland innings thrice to reduce the match to 35-over-a-side affair.

South Africa will now meet Bangladesh in their next game at Greneda on Saturday to further consolidate their position before playing the last three tough matches against the West Indies, England and New Zealand.

Opener AB de Villier's poor form, though, continued as he went out for another duck for the second successive game. After a two-ball innings against Sri Lanka five days ago at the same wicket, de Villiers lasted one ball more this time.

He did not bother to disturb the scorer as Boyd Rankin's superfast spell saw his demise as he slashed an away going ball to the safe hands of William Poterfield at gully when the team total was just one.

However, Smith and Kallis steadied the South African innings and after seeing off Rankin's fiery spell, the seasoned duo milked the inexperience Irish attack.

Taking advantage of a drier outfield and an even more drier wicket which made the ball come nicely to the bat, both went to the frontfoot hitting the Irish bowlers on the up and all over the ground. They brought up the fifty in quick time -- in the eighth over, from 52 balls.

South Africa lost the second wicket when a full-blooded straight drive by Smith got stuck to Johnston's extending hands in his own bowling. The skipper faced 45 balls for his 41 which included six boundaries.

Rankin returned for the second spell and brought Ireland back into the game removing danger man Herschelle Gibbs who, while attempting for a pull shot, gave a simple catch to Andrew White at midwicket.

An upbeat Ireland went flat out for more success, but man-of-the-match Kallis held forth to take his side home and scored his 54th half century of his career in the process.

He was also given two lives by his inexperienced opponents.

First, Rankin dropped him in his own bowling and then Johnston fumbled a simple catch off White when Kallis went for a sweep.

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