Leg-spinner Sune Luus grabbed five wickets for just eight runs in a sensational bowling spell as South Africa crushed Ireland by 67 runs in their second group match of the Women's World Twenty20 cricket tournament in Chennai on Wednesday.
Electing to bat, the South Africans scored 156/5 in their allotted 20 overs with Trisha Chetty top-scoring with 35 and Lizelle Lee contributing an unbeaten 30 and then restricted Ireland to 89 for 9 on the back of Sune Luus' impressive figures of 5/8, the best in the history of Women's World T20.
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Sune Luus ripped through the opposition batting order by triggering a batting collapse which saw Ireland lose seven wickets for the addition of just 25 runs to lose the Group A match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Her excellent figures were the second best in all women's T20 Internationals after New Zealander Amy Satterthwaite's 6/17 against English Women in 2007.
With the win on Wednesday, the South Africans, who had lost to Australia in their opening match, now have two points from as many matches while a winless Ireland are virtually knocked out of the tournament after their second consecutive defeat.
The South African innings was built largely upon the 41-run opening stand between Dane van Niekerk (20) and Trisha and the fifth wicket partnership of 42 runs forged between Lizelle and Dinesha Devnarain (24). Lee, who hit three fours and a six in her 24-ball unbeaten knock, gave the impetus to the South African innings towards the end.
Chasing a target of 157, Ireland failed to make a strong start as they were reduced to 20 for 2 in the sixth over but recovered a bit with a 44-run partnership for the third wicket between opener Clare Shillington (34) and captain Isobel Joyce (22) only to lose their way afterwards.
Joyce's departure led to a dramatic batting collapse as Ireland ended at 89 for 9 from 64 for 2 in the 12th over to lose the match.
Brief Scores:
South Africa: 156 for 5 in 20 overs (Trisha Chetty 35, Lizelle Lee 30 not out; Kim Garth 2/26)
Ireland: 89 for 9 in 20 overs (Clare Shillington 34; Sune Luus 5/8).
