Langton Rusere (Zimbabwe), Roly Black (Ireland), Richard Illingworth(England, TV)
Referee
Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
Toss
Ireland elected to bat
Pitch Report
This track is the best out of the lot! You want to win the toss and have a bat. It should help the ball come on to the bat nicely. Nice even covering of grass to hold the surface together, lots of runs in the offing.
Experts are creating their teams, watch this space
Venue Details
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
This track is the best out of the lot! You want to win the toss and have a bat. It should help the ball come on to the bat nicely. Nice even covering of grass to hold the surface together, lots of runs in the offing.
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That brings us to the end of our coverage for this series. South Africa would now head over to Bangladesh to play a test series that begins in a couple of weeks, while Ireland - barring any impromptu scheduling - would be in action next in January against Zimbabwe. We hope you enjoyed the commentary. This is for Darpan Tikiya to signing off. Sayonara!
Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa Captain): We didn't really appreciate how different the conditions were in the night. They put us under pressure with some quality bowling. We weren't good enough to overcome the discrepancy in the conditions tonight. Credit to them, they got to a decent total and put us under pressure. Jason Smith, Rickelton, Stubbs and Lizaad were the positives. Really happy with those performances.
Lizaad Williams (Player of the Series): We just found that it (wobble seam) was the most effective ball. Besides the heat, the wicket was a bit slower in the day. There was movement still, but it was slow. Credit to their openers for negotiating the new ball.
Paul Stirling (Ireland Captain and Player of the Match): (On the difference in conditions in the two innings) It was a massive difference. It was a lot slower in the first innings and then, quickened up. It was a relief to get over the line in the end. We were fractionally under par in the last two matches. So, delighted to win this. The game plan was the same in the last two matches. It was about hanging in there. We got the better of the conditions today.
Jason Smith (South Africa): "It wasn't easy coming in in that situation. The conditions allowed me to hang around and take it deep. I took it step by step."
The post match presentation is coming up. Hang around for the quotes from the skippers.
Ireland win by 69 runs.
Paul Stirling 88 (92) | Graham Hume 3/29 Jason Smith 91 (93) | Lizaad Williams 4/56
South Africa might have taken the series 2-1, but this is indeed a sweet victory for Ireland, especially considering that they now do not have any international matches for the next 4 months. They sign off the season on a positive note.
The victory was set up by the skipper's effervescent knock up the order that helped Ireland put up a competitive total on the board. Balbirnie and Tector too chipped in with vital contributions. Though, it felt as if the hosts left a few runs out there as they collapsed from 233/3 to 282/9.
But they more than made up for it with some excellent bowling. There was some swing on offer under the lights and the Irish bowlers relished it. In the last two games, they were forced to bowl under the scorching afternoon sun. Today, there was visibly more zip on the ball and more exuberance in the body language of the fielders
Each bowler chipped in. They bowled in partnerships, made the Proteas play some poor shots and got them all out for 215. Smith's 91 was the only bright spec for South Africa.
46.1 Graham Hume to Lungi Ngidi, GONE!! THAT IS IT!! VICTORY FOR IRELAND. Full ball, a foot outside off. Ngidi had his front leg cleared already. He swings hard at it, only to get an outside edge. The keeper makes no errors. Lungi Ngidi c Lorcan Tucker b Graham Hume 9 (21b, 2x4, 0x6)
46.1 Graham Hume to Lungi Ngidi, wide. Pace-off delivery. Full, outside off. In fact, it finishes outside the tram line.