Philander scripts superb win for Proteas
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
BELFAST, Jun 25(AFP): Vernon Philander celebrated his 22nd birthday and one-day international (ODI) debut with four wickets for 12 runs as South Africa beat Ireland by 42 runs in an ODI at Stormont here Sunday.
Ireland, set 174 to win in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side, were going well at 45 without loss before losing three wickets for two runs in nine balls.
Philander's figures were the second best by a South African on ODI debut. Fast bowling great Allan Donald took five for 29 against India at Calcutta in 1991/92.
South Africa captain Jacques Kallis said Cape Cobras ace Philander was being groomed to succeed veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock.
Earlier, Ireland debutant Alex Cusack took three for 15 in four overs as South Africa were held to 173 for four and then finished on 36 not out.
The 26-year-old all-rounder, originally from Brisbane but whose father holds an Irish passport, restricted the Proteas.
South Africa, after being sent in by Johnston, saw van Wyk (52) and AB de Villiers (40) put on 75 for the first wicket while Kallis made 46.
Openers William Porterfield and Kenny Carroll kept Ireland up with the run-rate.
But Carroll started the slump, unluckily slipping onto his stumps to be out hit wicket off the bowling of Dale Steyn for 21.
"The guys were positive and we had a bit of luck" said Johnston. "But unfortunately it turned against us with Kenny slipping over and then we lost three quick wickets."
South Africa-born Thinus Fourie, surprisingly promoted up the order, fell next when edging Steyn to first slip Justin Kemp.
Lively seamer Philander struck when Porterfield was caught behind and he then clean bowled wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien, who made 52 in Ireland's nine-wicket defeat against India here Saturday, for four.
Ireland had now collapsed to 56 for four and the game was getting beyond their grasp on a cold and dank day.
South Africa's other debutant, off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala, got in on the act with Kevin O'Brien holing out to van Wyk at deep mid- wicket.
Philander ended the match by bowling last man Roger Whelan for nought with a ball to spare.
Earlier, medium-pacer Cusack removed van Wyk, had Herschelle Gibbs caught behind for just two and dismissed Kallis for 46.
South Africa had six survivors from the side that beat Ireland by seven wickets in a World Cup Super Eights match in Georgetown, Guyana in April.
Scorecard
South Africa
Van Wyk c Johnston b Cusack 52
AB de Villiers c Cusack b Whelan 40
J Kallis c K O'Brien b Cusack 46
H Gibbs c N O'Brien b Cusack 2
J Kemp not out 18
M Boucher not out 2
Extras: (lb4, w9) 13
Total: (4 wkts, 31 overs) 173
Ireland
W Porterfield c Boucher b Philander 17
K Carroll hit wkt b Steyn 21
T Fourie c Kemp b Steyn 1
D Joyce c Boucher b Kallis 11
N O'Brien b Philander 4
A Cusack not out 36
K O'Brien c van Wyk b Tshabalala 6
A White c Ntini b Duminy 3
T Johnston c Duminy b Ntini 9
K McCallan c Boucher b Philander 10
R Whelan b Philander 0
Extras: (lb7, w6) 13
Total: (all out, 30.5 overs) 131
Man-of-the-match: Alex Cusack (IRL)
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Mark Benson (ENG)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)
Ireland, set 174 to win in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side, were going well at 45 without loss before losing three wickets for two runs in nine balls.
Philander's figures were the second best by a South African on ODI debut. Fast bowling great Allan Donald took five for 29 against India at Calcutta in 1991/92.
South Africa captain Jacques Kallis said Cape Cobras ace Philander was being groomed to succeed veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock.
Earlier, Ireland debutant Alex Cusack took three for 15 in four overs as South Africa were held to 173 for four and then finished on 36 not out.
The 26-year-old all-rounder, originally from Brisbane but whose father holds an Irish passport, restricted the Proteas.
South Africa, after being sent in by Johnston, saw van Wyk (52) and AB de Villiers (40) put on 75 for the first wicket while Kallis made 46.
Openers William Porterfield and Kenny Carroll kept Ireland up with the run-rate.
But Carroll started the slump, unluckily slipping onto his stumps to be out hit wicket off the bowling of Dale Steyn for 21.
"The guys were positive and we had a bit of luck" said Johnston. "But unfortunately it turned against us with Kenny slipping over and then we lost three quick wickets."
South Africa-born Thinus Fourie, surprisingly promoted up the order, fell next when edging Steyn to first slip Justin Kemp.
Lively seamer Philander struck when Porterfield was caught behind and he then clean bowled wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien, who made 52 in Ireland's nine-wicket defeat against India here Saturday, for four.
Ireland had now collapsed to 56 for four and the game was getting beyond their grasp on a cold and dank day.
South Africa's other debutant, off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala, got in on the act with Kevin O'Brien holing out to van Wyk at deep mid- wicket.
Philander ended the match by bowling last man Roger Whelan for nought with a ball to spare.
Earlier, medium-pacer Cusack removed van Wyk, had Herschelle Gibbs caught behind for just two and dismissed Kallis for 46.
South Africa had six survivors from the side that beat Ireland by seven wickets in a World Cup Super Eights match in Georgetown, Guyana in April.
Scorecard
South Africa
Van Wyk c Johnston b Cusack 52
AB de Villiers c Cusack b Whelan 40
J Kallis c K O'Brien b Cusack 46
H Gibbs c N O'Brien b Cusack 2
J Kemp not out 18
M Boucher not out 2
Extras: (lb4, w9) 13
Total: (4 wkts, 31 overs) 173
Ireland
W Porterfield c Boucher b Philander 17
K Carroll hit wkt b Steyn 21
T Fourie c Kemp b Steyn 1
D Joyce c Boucher b Kallis 11
N O'Brien b Philander 4
A Cusack not out 36
K O'Brien c van Wyk b Tshabalala 6
A White c Ntini b Duminy 3
T Johnston c Duminy b Ntini 9
K McCallan c Boucher b Philander 10
R Whelan b Philander 0
Extras: (lb7, w6) 13
Total: (all out, 30.5 overs) 131
Man-of-the-match: Alex Cusack (IRL)
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Mark Benson (ENG)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)