Depleted South Africa go down against Ireland in the 3rd ODI

Ireland's win over South Africa by a massive 69-run margin in their third and final ODI match on Monday, October 7, was a significant moment in international cricket. 

It's worth noting that a second-string South African side had dominated the series, winning the previous two games by 139 and 174 runs, respectively. This made Ireland's victory in the third ODI all the more impressive and unexpected.

Ireland, in the 3rd One Day International, gave their best batting performance of the series and drafted 284 runs for a loss of 9 wickets and medium pacers Mark Adair, Graham Hume and Craig Young stepped up to wipe off the Proteas for just 215 runs with three overs still left.

The T20 WC runner-ups would be somewhat more humiliating without Jason Smith's 91-run stand in the third ODI. 

The early loss of the opening pair, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, and the subsequent dismissal of the interim captain Rassie van der Dussen, who was caught Leg before wicket to Adair, put South Africa in a precarious position at 10-3 in the fifth over. This early setback significantly impacted South Africa's performance in the match. 

Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreyenne tried to revive their side, but Craig Young entrapped Verreyenne for 38 runs and got Stubbs outside edge for 20. At that time, South Africa was exposed to a very vulnerable position of 79-5 in the 20th over. 

Smith was playing his only second One Day International match. He stepped in during the 14th over and didn't get a single run in his nine-balls faced. The rest was history! He clinched 50 runs in just 63 balls and gave up on his wicket in the 45th over for 91 off 93. In the long run, Smith hit four sixes and nine boundaries but missed his maiden century by just nine runs. 

The real heroes of Ireland's victory were their bowlers, Graham Hume (3-29), Craig Young (3-40), and Mark Adair (2-54), who displayed exceptional skill and determination on the field.

Their batters were also exceptional as captain Stirling and Andy Balbirnie opened the floodgates with a 101-run stand, which is indeed Ireland's highest opening partnership against South Africa. In the meantime, the skipper also clinched his 30th ODI half-century and scored 88 off 92 deliveries, with eight boundaries and three sixes, when he was overthrown by SA medium pacer Ottneil Baartman. 

Ireland was close to surpassing 300 runs, but Lizaad Williams quickly picked three wickets in the 48th over, and Harry Tector got run out in the final over when he was on 60 runs in just 48 balls, which slowed them down. 

While South Africa won the ODI series 2-1, Ireland shared the T20I series 1-1.