Day 18: Irish shamrocks wilt in the face of Protea onslaught
It was a case of no luck for the Irish against South Africa.
IT wasn’t like the result was ever going to be in doubt.
So, South Africa’s huge win over Ireland may not have been that exciting.
But there were some interesting/worrying factors.
Like why were neither of Hashim Amla nor Faf du Plessis able to kick on and make a double hundred?
It was there for the taking. Especially Amla. Simply not acceptable.
Then there’s the bowling. How is it that neither one of Dale Steyn nor Morne Morkel could run in and take eight or nine wickets on their own?
That’s worrying. These are two of the most feared bowlers in the world.
Jokes aside, it was a pleasing result.
For the record, SA made 411 for 4. Ireland made 210 all out.
There would have been just the slightest of doubts (about 0.067 percent) of Ireland causing some problems.
Today’s match showed that SA’s best chance of winning the World Cup (other than Mitchell Starc breaking his arm) is for someone to drop Amla early on.
That way he is guaranteed a century, something much needed in a final.
Meanwhile, the Irish, after making quite a fuss about being a deserving nation, will realise that they still have much work to do.
In particular, John Mooney, a bloke who looks like he would prefer to be involved in a rumble outside a heavy metal concert.
He got out to AB ‘Is his arm bent when bowling?’ de Villiers. No doubt that will earn him a fine at the post game team meeting.
In his defence, he is a fast bowler, and a decent one, too.
Speaking of De Villiers, the highlight of his game wasn’t the century scored by Hash or the four sticks picked up by Kyle Abbott.
No, all he wanted to talk about was his official ‘one for the over’ bouncer.
“It was my slower bouncer,” he quipped afterwards.
Looking ahead at games that matter: things could interesting if West Indies beat India, Sri Lanka beat Australia and SA beat Pakistan.
It could throw a spanner in the works with regards to who plays who in the quarter-finals…
