Wolvaardt, Luus tons seal series

South Africa clinched the second ODI and the three-match series following a 74-run win at St George's Park, Gqeberha. After setting a massive 376-run target, South Africa held Ireland at bay even as they gave a spirited chase.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus were at the centre of South Africa's batting efforts once more. Both struck centuries and their massive 179-run stand formed the backbone of South Africa's innings. Wolvaardt was watchful to begin with but found her groove with a range of boundaries even as she lost her opening partner, Tazim Brits, in the sixth over. She was responsible for much of the scoring in the PowerPlay as South Africa managed 52/1 in the first 10 overs.

Lara Goodall's dismissal in the 11th over marked the beginning of Wolvaardt and Luus' 155-ball association. Wolvaardt brought up her century in the 32nd over with a boundary off Laura Delany and carried on till the 37th over before being dismissed by Aimee Maguire. Ireland failed to wrestle back momentum, however, as another 117-run stand ensued between Luus and Dane van Niekerk. Luus raised her ton in the 47th over while Van Niekerk powered South Africa's total further with her 47-ball 88.

Ireland's chase started on the wrong foot after they lost Sarah Forbes in the very first over but Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter ensured that they didn't veer too far off course. They shared a 77-run stand which came to an end after Lewis was dismissed in the 14th over. Hunter and Orla Prendergast kept Ireland going with a 93-run partnership but South Africa struck twice, dismissing Hunter and Laura Delany in successive overs, to drain the momentum.

Prendergast and Leah Paul did not surrender and kept their side afloat with an 80-run stand. Paul's dismissal in the 40th over, however, triggered a collapse as Ireland slipped from 251/4 to 301 all-out in 47.5 overs. Prendergast fell just three short of her second ODI hundred as Ireland capitulated. Leah Jones was the pick of the South African bowlers with figures of 3-48 in 6.5 overs.

Brief Scores: South Africa Women 375/6 (Laura Wolvaardt 124, Sune Luus 114: Jane Maguire 3-75) beat Ireland Women 301 all-out (Orla Prendergast 97, Amy Hunter 64; Leah Jones 3-48) by 74 runs