Hall breaks Irish hearts

IRELAND blew a great chance for a shock win over South Africa after slumping to a 35-run defeat in their World Cup warm-up match at the Sir Frank Worrell grounds yesterday.

Set 193 for victory, Ireland appeared cruising to victory at 139 for four with 14 overs remaining, but collapsed dramatically to be all out for 157.

Andre Botha (40) and Kevin O’Brien (33) added 54 runs for the fifth wicket to put their team on course for what would have been one of the biggest upsets in world cricket.

But once Botha was caught by wicket keeper Mark Boucher off the bowling of Andre Nel, South Africa lifted their game and dismissed the next five wickets for just 18 runs.

Ireland lost their first wicket in the second over when Jeremy Bray (1) was caught by Boucher of Andre Nel with the score on one.

Andrew Hall, who inspired South Africa with an unbeaten 67 after his team was perilously placed at 91 for eight, grabbed the wickets of Eoin Morgan (14) and Niall O ‘Brien (16) to leave Ireland 69 for three after 22 overs.

Hall bowled Morgan at 34 in the 12th over and had O’Brien caught by Boucher at 69.

Roger Telemachus had opener William Porterfield (37) caught by Graeme Smith at slip as Ireland slipped to 85 for four.

Ireland’s most productive partnership followed, with Botha and O’Brien taking no chances against controlled bowling.

After batting for 79 minutes and hitting three fours off his 59 balls, Botha’s drove at Nel only to see Boucher gleefully accept his third catch of the innings.

A steady procession followed as Kyle McCallan (3) was bowled by Charl Langeveldt at 148.

Skipper Trent Johnston (0) was bowled by Hall one run later and Andrew White (0) was lbw to Langeveldt at 152.

O’Brien’s steady innings came to an end on 33 at 157 when he was Langeveldt’s third victim, edging to Boucher.

The match ended when Paul Mooney was lbw without scoring to give Langeveldt his fourth wicket. The bowler‘s 8.2 overs cost just 31 runs.

Hall took three for 26 from eight overs and Nel two for 38 off eight overs.

Earlier, South Africa had to thank a fighting ninth-wicket stand of 85 between Hall and Robin Petersen (29).

They added 85 for the ninth wicket.

Hall arrived at the crease at 66 for seven and shared 25 with Boucher for the eighth wicket. Boucher fell at 91 but Hall found Petersen to be a useful partner to give respect to their team’s total.

Petersen was eventually bowled by Andre Botha with less than three overs remaining. Botha also grabbed the wicket of Roger Telemachus (10) with the last ball.

Hall struck six fours and a six in his 98-ball innings which spanned 125 minutes.

The early part of the South African innings was undermined by some superb bowling from Ireland skipper Johnston and Dave Langford Scott.

Johnston took four for 40 off his 10 overs while Langford Scott removed the first three batsmen in an eight-over spell that cost 30 runs.

Ireland play Canada on Thursday in their second warm-up match on Friday.