Smith and Kallis find their touch

South Africa beat Ireland by 33 runs at Southgate in the final warm-up match before the start of the ICC World Twenty20.

South Africa got off to a flier thanks to Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis who added 109 in 12 overs, before Smith retired having made 63 from just 41 balls. He hit seven fours and two sixes, being particularly savage on Alex Cusack, whom he struck for 24 in one over. Kallis was only slightly less severe on the Irish, smashing 57 from 40 deliveries.

After they had both retired , Ireland fought back well, with Regan West in particular helping keep runs in check. He bowled with plenty of guile and variety, conceding just 20 runs from his four overs, capturing the wicket of Justin Ontong. Peter Connell (2 for 35) picked up the wickets of Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel, while Cusack finished well removing the prolific Duminy for just 14.

A target of 164 was always likely to be out of Ireland's reach, but Niall O'Brien, who smashed 62 off 52 deliveries, ensured that there were one or two anxious moments for one of the tournament favourites.

Graeme Smith had introduced spin into the attack as early as the third over, and the move paid immediate dividends. They choked the innings so effectively that Ireland were never seriously in contention with a combined analysis of six for 64 from 12 overs, as Ireland struggled to find the boundaries required.

William Porterfield (8), Kevin O'Brien (6), Gary Wilson (0), and John Mooney (6), all succumbed to the spinners, on a track which was always difficult to score on once the pace was taken off the ball.