Ireland captain Paul Stirling led from the front with an 88 as his side won the last ODI against South Africa by 69 runs in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Chasing 285 to win, South Africa fell to 126-6, with only Jason Smith’s magnificent 91 keeping them in the game.
However, Smith was unable to prevent Ireland from winning only their second ODI against South Africa.
“It’s a relief to get past it,” Stirling added.
“We discussed just winning the game and getting the job done. We disappointed ourselves in the first two games. We knew if we applied ourselves and kept our wickets, we’d score runs.”
Graham Hume, born in Johannesburg, played for South Africa. Under 19s was the top Irish bowler with 3-29, while Ulster-born Craig Young finished with 3-40.
South Africa won the ODI series 2-1, with the two teams drawing the previous T20 series 1–1.
Stirling set the tone for Ireland’s 284-9 when he won the toss and chose to bat.
This was in contrast to Ireland’s first two matches, in which they failed to survive past 32 overs, scoring 132 and 169 in response to high South African scores.
On Monday, Stirling and Andy Balbirnie put on 101 for the first wicket until Balbirnie was bowled by Lizaad Williams for a solid 45 off 73 deliveries.
Curtis Campher surged to 34 off 36 balls before falling to Ottneil Baartman, who bowled Stirling in his next over. The captain hit three sixes and eight fours in his innings.
Harry Tector kept Ireland going with a 48-ball 60, while Williams, the only South African bowler to complete his entire 10 overs, finished with 4-56.
South Africa’s response was quickly derailed at 10-3 when Mark Adair pulled Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen, who were filling in for injured captain Temba Bavuma. Reeza Hendricks sent Graham Hume to Balbirnie at second slip.
Kyle Verreynne (38) and Tristan Stubbs (20) steadied the innings with a 49-run combination, but when Verreynne was leg before Young, the wheels fell off again.
At 126-6, South Africa appeared to be out of it, but Smith ensured that the Irish would have to wait.
The 29-year-old Western Province player, who scored nought in his only other ODI against Afghanistan last month, made the most of his opportunity after being draughted in after Wiaan Mulder returned home for personal reasons.
Smith hit 91 from 93 balls, including nine fours and four sixes, before slicing Hume to Adair at third man.
