South Africa crush Ireland, into quarterfinals

KOLKATA: South Africa followed up a shaky batting effort with a strong bowling performance to beat Ireland by 131 runs at the World Cup on Tuesday and confirm its place in the quarterfinals.

The Irish were bowled out for 141 in 33.2 overs, chasing 273 for victory in the Group B game at Eden Gardens. The defeat ended Ireland's slim hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Leftarm spinner Robin Peterson took 3-32 and fast bowler Morne Morkel 3-33 to lead South Africa to an ultimately comfortable win after JP Duminy had rescued the Proteas from an early batting collapse with his 99 from 103 balls.

Duminy dragged his team back from 117-5, when a fighting display from Ireland in the field had sent South Africa's top order reeling.

Jacques Kallis had 2-20 and spinners Johan Botha and Duminy took a wicket apiece in a convincing finish from South Africa.

South Africa's bowlers broke through straight away, with Morkel opening with a two-wicket burst that removed Irish openers William Porterfield and Paul Stirling in the space of nine balls.

Morkel had Ireland captain Porterfield caught for six by opposite number Graeme Smith at first slip off the final ball of his first over.

Another rising delivery accounted for Stirling in the lanky Morkel's second over, the fourth of the innings, when the Irishman edged to Jacques Kallis at second slip.

Kallis picked up the wicket of Niall O'Brien (10), also in his first over, and the trend continued when offspinner Johan Botha needed just five balls to have Ed Joyce lbw for 12. An umpire review couldn't save Joyce.

Gary Wilson and the big-hitting Kevin O'Brien combined for 41 runs, with Wilson briefly counterattacking with four boundaries and a sweetly-timed six over midwicket off slow leftarmer Peterson. Peterson hit back to send them both packing in three balls.

O'Brien fell first, lofting tamely to Hashim Amla at long-off and Wilson was out lbw as Ireland slid rapidly toward defeat at 92-6.

Duminy's memorable night continued when he had Trent Johnston (12) caught behind by Van Wyk.

South Africa closed out its fourth win in five games at the World Cup when Morkel halted George Dockrell's 16-run cameo via a spectacular diving catch by Van Wyk.

Earlier, Colin Ingram backed up Duminy with 46 from 43 balls on his World Cup debut after he was brought in to the lineup in place of the injured AB de Villiers. South Africa's leading runscorer missed the game with a left thigh strain.

Duminy shared partnerships of 87 with fellow left-hander Ingram and then 65 with Botha (21 not out) to fend off Ireland's early surge. He missed out on a maiden World Cup century when he skied a shot off John Mooney (1-36) and was caught by Kevin O'Brien at mid-on three balls from the end of the innings. Mooney was one of five Ireland bowlers to pick up a wicket.

The Irish had fought back from two dropped catches to produce an impressive fielding performance to run through South Africa's top order.

Opener Hashim Amla (18) was dismissed by a diving catch by Dockrell on the third man boundary and captain Smith (7) and Kallis (19) were run out by some slick fielding.

Promoted to No. 3, wicketkeeper batsman Van Wyk made a quickfire 42 after being dropped twice in an incident-packed innings but was bowled by Dockrell. And when Faf du Plessis (11) edged to Johnston at slip off spinner Stirling in the 27th over, South Africa was in deep trouble.

Duminy saved his team with a composed innings for his 13th ODI half-century, and only just missed out on a maiden World Cup ton.

He hit six fours and a towering six over midwicket, but played a measured knock initially after the top order had tried to be too attacking and paid for it.

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