Clippings: South Africa beat Ireland

Georgetown, April 4
Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock wriggled out of bad patches to co-author South Africa's seven-wicket win against a never-say-die Ireland but the gloss was somehow missing from their triumph in the Super Eight match of the cricket World Cup here on Tuesday.
Asked to bat first in hostile conditions and amid repeated rain interruptions, Ireland climbed up to 152 for eight from their 35 overs.
Defending the total, they ensured it was not exactly a stroll in the park for South Africa and fought well within their limitations before succumbing in the 32nd over.
Ireland, which had delivered the knock-out punch to Pakistan in the group stage, simply didn't have the wherewithal to plot yet another upset but they did a good account of themselves in the match.
Fancying a semifional berth, South Africa now face Bangladesh while Ireland take on New Zealand at this very venue on Saturday and Monday, espectively.
After their bowlers restriced Ireland to a modest total, South Africa faced a revised target of 160 under the Duckworth-Lewis rule in the afternoon.
Kallis (66) proved the mainstay of the innings who kept South Africa straight on purpose after three wickets were lost for 85 runs by the 17th over.
It was Kallis' unbeaten 80-run association with Ashwell Prince (47), which saw South Africa through amid deepening gloom.
Ireland's lanky right-arm medium-pacer Boyd Rankin gave South Africa early jitters with the wicket of AB de Villiers (0) off the third ball of the innings and then had Herschelle Gibbs (6) midway through the passage.
But captain Graeme Smith (41) was the tower of strength at the top of the order and with Kallis and Prince coming good, there were no further alarms.
Smith needed 45 balls for his 41 runs and hit six fours while Kallis faced 79 balls and struck eight boundaries. Prince played handsomely for his 47 runs, needing 44 balls for it and slamming three fours and a six, which sealed the fate of the match.
Earlier, three interruptions and regular revisions of overs permissible left Ireland with only 35 overs during which they made a spirited attempt on a stop-and-start day.
Early drizzle delayed the start of the game by 20 minutes and Ireland didnt have the luck of toss either as they were sent in to bat.
They were 16 for one when rain held up the play for 10 minutes, 17 for one after just seven further balls had been bowled and then 23 for one after another 13 minutes of play was possible.
Then came the longest break before the umpires reduced it to a 35-overs-a-side affair.
South Africa achieved an early breakthrough when Pollock won a leg before shout against the prolific Jeremy Bray for nought. The ball shaped to go away but held its line to rap the batsman in line of stumps.
William Porterfield was steady during his knock of 14 from 33 balls with one four before he became Pollocks second victim at 31 for 2 in the 13th over.
Eoin Morgan (28) and Niall O Brien were then engaged in a hectic stand of 32 for the third wicket before Morgan skied Andrew Hall for Ashwell Prince to complete the catch inside the circle.
Morgan faced 50 balls for his 28 runs and hit four fours.
O Brien continued his good form with 25 runs before he scooped Charles Langeveldt for Herschelle Gibbs to complete the catch at the short fine leg position.
Andrew White (30) was another one to chip in with a useful score but he failed to carry on as he picked up a full-toss from Graeme Smith and sent it straight Gibbs at short midwicket.
White hit 30 from as many balls during his enterprising innings but his departure plunged his side to 116 for 5 in 29 overs.
Langeveldt (3 for 41) picked up some cheap late wickets to go with Pollocks ( 2 for 17) early blitz and a good spell by Andrew Hall (2 for 37) in the middle overs.