Vernon Philander celebrated his 22nd birthday and one-day international debut with four wickets for 12 runs as South Africa beat Ireland by 42 runs in a one-day international at Stormont here on Sunday.
Ireland, set 174 to win in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs per side, were going well at 45 without loss before losing three wickets for two runs in nine balls.
Philander’s figures were the second best by a South African on one-day international debut. Fast bowling great Allan Donald took five for 29 against India at Calcutta in 1991/92.
And afterwards South Africa captain Jacques Kallis said Cape Cobras ace Philander was being groomed to succeed veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock.
“He’s done well back home in domestic cricket and that’s the reason he got a call-up here,” said Kallis.
“He’s a good all-rounder, someone we are going to try to mould along the line of Shaun Pollock. They are big boots to fill, but he started well today (Sunday),” added Kallis, himself one of the world’s leading all-rounders.
Earlier Ireland debutant Alex Cusack took three for 15 in four overs as South Africa were held to 173 for four and then finished on 36 not out.
The 26-year-old all-rounder, originally from Brisbane but whose father holds an Irish passport, restricted the Proteas.
They had been on course for a score in excess of 200 in their first match since losing April’s World Cup semi-final against eventual champions Australia.
“We knew he could make the step up,” said Ireland captain Trent Johnston. “He came out there in tough conditions, against quality batsmen with short boundaries and he hit the top of off-stump. That’s all I want.
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