South Africa in last eight after crushing win over Ireland

When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that is exactly what JP Duminy showed as he wielded the willow with elegance to help South Africa beat Ireland by 131 runs at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday and seal a quarter-final spot for his team.

The Duminy show might have ended a run short of a well-deserved century when he holed out trying to hit the ball out of the park, but the significance of the left-hander’s knock was not lost on the 25,000-odd spectators, who gave him a standing ovation. Duminy planned his innings to perfection and although he left with two balls remaining, South Africa finished with a healthy 272 for seven after poised precariously at 117 for five at the 26-over mark.

Having not had a big score so far in the tournament, aggregating a mediocre 105 runs from four matches at an average of 35, Duminy turned on the heat against an Irish attack looking determined to spoil the Proteas’ smooth entry into the knockout stages.

The innings once again showed why Duminy is considered South Africa’s most astute finisher. While the other batsmen found the going tough, he took the game away from Ireland’s grasp. In the Irish chase, skipper William Porterfield’s (6) dismissal in the second over didn’t help matters.

Paul Stirling (10) could not capitalise after Morne Morkel dropped a sitter in Dale Steyn’s second over. Although Kevin O’Brien and Gary Wilson tried to resurrect the Irish innings, Robin Peterson’s double blow in the 22nd over — Kevin (19) caught by Hashim Amla at long-off and Wilson (31) lbw — signalled the slide for Ireland. They finally folded for 141 in 33.2 overs.

Earlier, Porterfield’s decision to field was backed by his bowlers as Amla (18) was the first to go. Having hit Boyd Rankin for a boundary, he hooked Rankin’s third delivery to the mid-wicket stands. But Rankin had the last laugh when the Amla got a top edge and found a diving George Dockrell at third-man. But Morne van Wyk (42), promoted up the order in AB de Villiers’s absence, capitalised on two dropped catches to hit some bold shots. But his partnership with Smith (7) was short-lived as van Wyk sold Smith a dummy and left him high and dry.

Having hit Johnston to mid-wicket, he called the skipper for a quick single before realising that John Mooney was a bit too close for comfort. Although he sent Smith (7) back, the captain couldn’t beat the direct hit. Van Wyk kept going in Kallis’s company before he was bowled trying to cut a length delivery from Dockrell.

Although the Proteas expected Kallis and new batsman Duminy to initiate the resurgence, their effort was cut short as Kallis (19) was run out by an alert Porterfield. Finally, it was left to Duminy and Colin Ingram (46) to steady the ship. While Duminy played the sheetanchor’s role, Ingram looked to get the scoreboard moving. The 87-run sixth-wicket partnership, at a rapid 6.60 runs per over, was finally broken when Ingram got a delivery from Johnston that kept a bit low and squeezed through his defence.

But Johan Botha (21 not out) proved to be a good foil for a now aggressive Duminy as the duo put on 65. They plundered 43 runs off the last five overs – the batting powerplay. “I looked to stay cool although the situation didn’t help. Hopefully, this will help us perform better in future crunch matches,” Duminy said. “I have no regrets at not getting the century as one or two runs can be crucial. I am happy to have gone for the big shot.

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