IRE vs SA: Simi Singh's record maiden hundred in vain as South Africa level series with 70 run win

Simi Singh struck a hundred, his maiden hundred in international cricket and it became the highest score by number eight batsman in the history of ODI cricket. In fact, the Ireland batsman became the first-ever player to score a hundred batting at number eight. However, that could not stop South Africa from registering an emphatic 70 run win in the third ODI to level the three-match series 1-1 after the first game was washed out by rain.

Ireland didn’t have an ideal start to their chase and to be honest, Singh and his partner Curtis Campher were the saving grace of a sorry looking scorecard. The hosts lost the top six wickets at the score of 92 with last match heroes skipper Andrew Balbarnie, Gorge Dockrell and Harry Tector back in the hut.

Singh then joined Capmher and the two added 104 for the seventh wicket in just 107 balls. Post the Capmher wicket, the 34-year-old Punjab born started teeing off. In fact, he scored his last 46 runs off just 30 balls. He added 47 for the last wicket with Craig Young, but in the end, it was too much to ask for from the tailenders as Anrich Nortrje removed Young to bowl Ireland out for 276.

For the Proteas, Andile Phehlukwayo and Tabraiz Shamsi picked up three wickets each.

Earlier in the day, having won the toss South Africa decided to bat first and made good use of the opportunity as both openers Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan hit centuries and added 225 for the first wicket. Malan remained unbeaten at his career-best 177 to guide the Proteas to 346 in their 50 overs. Malan was adjudged Man of the Match for his efforts.

Having drawn the ODI series, the two sides would now take on each other in the T20Is with the first of the three games being played at the same venue of The Village, Dublin, as the three ODIs.

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IRE vs SA: Lizaad Williams becomes third South African to strike with first ball in ODI cricket

South Africa pacerLizaad Williams struck with his maiden delivery in ODI cricket as he got the wicket of Andy McBrine in the third and final ODI of the three-match series between hosts Ireland and the Proteas being played at The Village in Dublin. Introduced in the eighth over into the attack by skipper Temba Bavuma, Williams got McBrine to knick the delivery which went into wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock’s gloves pretty easily. With this wicket, he also became the third South African in ODIs after Martin van Jaarsveld and Mond Zondeki to achieve this rare feat. Overall, he is the eighth South African and 69th bowler in the world to get a wicket off the very first ball of his career in either of the three formats i.e. Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Williams was given an opportunity to play his first ODI after Kagiso Rabada was rested for the game. The 27-year-old Cape Province born had previously played four T20Is, picking seven wickets in them. As far as the game is concerned, chasing a huge target of 347, Ireland have been reduced to 144-6 in the 30th over and a victory looks like an unlikely scenario for them now.

IRE vs SA: Janneman Malan hits career-best 177, de Kock reaches 10,000 international runs

It was an endearing watch for South African cricket fans, at least for those who would have been able to watch in the ongoing mob loot and clashes in the country, as two openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock scored brilliant hundreds to propel the visitors to a huge total of 347 against hosts Ireland. Under the pump after losing the second game of the three-match series with the first match being washed out, the Proteas showed great resolve as they mounted 225 for the first wicket with both openers reaching their respective hundreds. In fact, on his way top hundred, de Kock became only the second South African wicketkeeper after Mark Boucher and only the seventh in the world to reach 10,000 international runs across all formats. Not only that, de Kock als0 became the youngest and quickest wicket-keeper batsman to reach the 10,000 run landmark in international cricket. The 28-year-old batter recorded his 16th century as a wicketkeeper opener to join Australian great Adam Gilchrist at the top of that list. He is now the fifth quickest overall and second quick among Proteas after Hashim Amla to score 16 centuries. He achieved the feat in his 124th innings while Amla did it in only 94 innings. As far as Malan is concerned, playing only his seventh ODI, the 25-year-old struck his second hundred. His score of unbeaten 177 is also the fourth-highest individual score in an ODI by any South Africa batter, the best being 188 not out by Gary Kirsten in 1996. His partnership of 225 with fellow opener de Kock is also the second-highest opening stand for South Africa in ODIs and fell short by just 10 runs off the highest partnership recorded by Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs against India in 2000. No other batter apart from these two was able to leave as imp[ressive a mark in this game. The Irish team led by Andrew Balbirnie would look to go all ou tin chase of this total and at the time writing this, they were 27-2 after seven overs.

We want to do well in T20 matches: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on preparation for World T20

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the pools for the World T20 scheduled to take place in October-November later this year. India and Pakistan have been kept in the same pool and will lock horns with each other in the league stage. Talking about the World T20 and the preparations, India bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that the side is looking to win all the matches and be in the groove. "T20 World Cup is round the corner. We want to do well in the T20 matches, we've got just three matches. It's about how you execute your skills. Sometimes you do well in the skills part but don't get wickets. As a team, we want to win and say that we won the last international series before going into the World Cup,” he said in a presser. Bhuvneshwar is with the other Indian team in Sri Lanka where the two sides will play three ODIs and as many T20Is. Earlier, the selectors handed over the captaincy to Shikhar Dhawan for this bilateral tie while Kumar was named his deputy. Apart from India and Pakistan, the World T20 group comprises New Zealand and Afghanistan and will also have a couple of teams from the qualifiers. The runner-up of qualifying Group A and winner of Group B will join the four teams.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar points changes in white ball under lights, Suryakumar Yadav lauds Dravid

Indian team sweat it out under lights at the R Premadasa Stadium before the ODI series against the hosts Sri Lanka and players outlined the need of getting back into groove while under lights. The vice-captain Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who will spearhead the bowling attack said that the session was crucial as the players have not had much time training under lights in the recent times. He said that getting the ‘feel’ of the white ball was essential for both the batsmen and bowlers as white ball behaves pecualiraly under lights. “We wanted to practise under lights before the series as none of us would have practised under lights for a long long time. It was very important, especially from bowlers’ point of view as white ball at times behaves differently under lights. At times it swings, and at other times it does not and hence it matters for the batsmen as well to get the feel of it before the main series,” Bhuvaneshwar Kumar said in a video released by the BCCI. On the other hand, one of the newest face in the side, Suryakumar Yadav pointed out the ‘biggest boost’ of having a man like Rahul Dravid in and around the side to help each and every players. He did not find it necessary to count the role and influence Dravid has on this team and said that the fact that he gives time to each and every players to help them in every aspect of the game speaks volume of the role he has been playing for the side filled with senior and younger players. The ODI series between India and Sri Lanka is schedule to start on Sunday, July 18 in Colombo.