June 26, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1428

BELFAST, June 25: Vernon Philander celebrated his 22nd birthday and One-day International debut with four wickets for 12 runs as South Africa beat Ireland by 42 runs in the one-off One-day International at Stormont here on Sunday (also partially reported in Monday’s edition).

Ireland, set 174 to win in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side, were going well at 45 without loss before losing three wickets for two runs in nine balls.

Philander's figures were the second best by a South African on ODI debut. Fast bowling great Allan Donald took five for 29 against India at Kolkata in 1991-92.

And afterwards South Africa captain Jacques Kallis said Cape Cobras ace Philander was being groomed to succeed veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock.

“He's done well back home in domestic cricket and that's the reason he got a call-up here,” said Kallis.

“He's a good all-rounder, someone we are going to try to mould along the line of Shaun Pollock. They are big boots to fill, but he started well,” added Kallis, himself one of the world's leading all-rounders.

Earlier Ireland debutant Alex Cusack took three for 15 in four overs as South Africa were held to 173 for four and then finished on 36 not out.

The 26-year-old all-rounder, originally from Brisbane but whose father holds an Irish passport, restricted the Proteas.

They had been on course for a score in excess of 200 in their first match since losing April's World Cup semi-final against eventual champions Australia.

“We knew he could make the step up,” said Ireland captain Trent Johnston.

“He came out there in tough conditions, against quality batsmen with short boundaries and he hit the top of off-stump. That's all I want.

“He got the rewards with three wickets and then went out and showed us how well he could bat. He's going to be in these Irish colours for a long time and he deserves that,” added Johnson, himself Australian-born.

Openers William Porterfield and Kenny Carroll kept Ireland up with the run-rate.

But Carroll started the slump, unluckily slipping onto his stumps to be out hit wicket off the bowling of Dale Steyn for 21.

South Africa-born Thinus Fourie, surprisingly promoted up the order, fell next when edging Steyn to first slip Justin Kemp.

Lively seamer Philander struck when Porterfield was caught behind and he then clean bowled wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien, who made 52 in Ireland's nine-wicket defeat against India here Saturday, for four.

Ireland had now collapsed to 56 for four and the game was getting beyond their grasp on a cold and dank day.

South Africa's other debutant, off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala, got in on the act with Kevin O'Brien holing out to van Wyk at deep mid-wicket.

Philander ended the match by bowling last man Roger Whelan for nought with a ball to spare.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

M.N. van Wyk c Johnston b Cusack 52

A.B. de Villiers c Cusack b Whelan 40

J.H. Kallis c K.J. O’Brien b Cusack 46

H.H. Gibbs c N.J. O’Brien b Cusack 2

J.M. Kemp not out 18

M.V. Boucher not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-9) 13

TOTAL (for four wkts, 31 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-75, 2-136, 3-147, 4-162.

DID NOT BAT: J-P Duminy, V.D. Philander, M. Ntini, T. Tshabalala, D.W. Steyn.

BOWLING: Whelan 7-0-43-1 (2w); Fourie 6-0-30-0 (3w); K.J. O’Brien 2-0-15-0; McCallan 6-0-31-0; Johnston 4-0-17-0; White 2-0-18-0; Cusack 4-0-15-3.

IRELAND:

W.T.S. Porterfield c Boucher b Philander 17

K.E.D. Carroll hit wkt b Steyn 21

M.J. Fourie c Kemp b Steyn 1

D.I. Joyce c Boucher b Kallis 11

N.J. O’Brien b Philander 4

A.R. Cusack not out 36

K.J. O’Brien c van Wyk b Tshabalala 6

A.R. White c Ntini b Duminy 3

D.T. Johnston c Duminy b Ntini 9

W.K. McCallan c Boucher b Philander 10

R.K. Whelan b Philander 0

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-6) 13

TOTAL (all out, 30.5 overs) 131

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-47, 3-47, 4-56, 5-66, 6-77, 7-83, 8-96, 9-129.

BOWLING: Ntini 6-0-23-1 (5w); Steyn 7-0-30-2; Philander 5.5-1-12-4; Kallis 6-0-21-1; Tshabalala 3-0-22-1; Duminy 3-0-16-1.

RESULT: South Africa won by 42 runs.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: M.R. Benson (England).

MATCH REFEREE: Alan Hurst (Australia).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Alex Cusack.—AFP