Tryon, Luus star as rampant Proteas take charge

A TRIO OF half- centuries by Chloe Tryon ( 92), Laura Wolvaardt ( 55) and Suné Luus ( 52*) saw the Proteas go 1- 0 up in the fourmatch women’s One- Day International series when they beat Ireland by a commanding 89 runs at Merrion Cricket Club in Dublin yesterday.

The Proteas posted 283/ 7 in their allotted overs after being put in to bat by the hosts. Wolvaardt gave the tourists a good start with her 55 off 85 deliveries ( 9 fours), carrying the burden well after losing Trisha Chetty ( 10) cheaply.

They shared a 52- run opening partnership, followed by a 43- run stand for the third wicket with Andrie Steyn ( 18) after Mignon du Preez returned to the hut without scoring.

While it was Wolvaardt who gave the Proteas a positive start, it was Tryon and Luus, who gave momentum to the innings with a striking 142- run partnership ( 131 balls) for the sixth wicket.

Luus’ 52 came off 67 deliveries ( 7 fours), while Tryone ( 92 off 68, 7 fours, 6 sixes) narrowly missed out on a century, falling victim to Kim Garth ( 3/ 61), who did the most damage with the ball for Ireland.

A target of 284 was always going to be a big ask, but the visitors left nothing to chance. Luus was fierce, taking 6/ 36 in her 10 overs, leaving the hosts reeling. Garth put up a good fight, hitting an unbeaten 72 off 80 balls, but could not find a lasting partnership that would take the relentless South Africans on. Masabata Klaas claimed 2/ 34 in seven.

Ireland were bowled out for 194 in 44.5 overs.