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.