It was all going so well at halfway. Ireland had just posted their highest total in a one-day international against South Africa but four overs into the visitors’ reply, they had 42 on the scoreboard. It was a stroll to the finish.

But Ireland will take the positives, scoring three times as many runs as they did in Saturday’s first game and after that ragged start, they kept them in the field for 39 overs before the Proteas clinched the series with a game to spare.

Captain Gaby Lewis scored her fourth ODI half century, Georgina Dempsey picked up where she left off in the first match and along with Sophie McMahon got into the 40s – and Alana Dalzell made her debut.

It was a proud moment for the Bready pace bowler when she received her cap from injured captain Laura Delany before the match as she became the first player since Julie Logue in 1996, from the North West to play an ODI. S

he also scored her first four runs, coming in at No 9, before being bowled by Shabnim Ismail, the world ranked number two bowler, as Ireland comfortably saw out the 50 overs to total 213 for eight.

Called into the attack in the17th over, with the second wicket partnership already worth 39, Dalzell bowled a tight four overs for 15 runs; only a debut wicket was missing.

Alana Dalzell: Pic: Rodney Smythe

“It’s good to finally have representation from the North West again, hopefully it will give some of the young girls aspirations to do the same,” said the debutant.

"I was nervous bowling my first over but felt good once I got into the zone.

"But it’s great just being around this standard, you pick up small things and it forces you to think for yourself and take everything in.”

Dempsey for the second successive match was the only successful Ireland bowler, and for the second time she dismissed world number five Laura Wolvaardt, caught at mid-wicket, but opener Andrie Steyn and Lara Goodall would not be moved.

Indeed, they gave only one chance in their unbroken stand of 165, Goodall on 10 off Dempsey.

As in the first game, it was a cautious start by Ireland – keen to avoid a repeat of losing three wickets in the opening seven overs – and although only 17 runs were scored in 10 overs, Leah Paul was the sole casualty.

Lewis also lost Rachel Delaney, the experienced Mary Waldron and Sarah Forbes, playing her second game, to leave Ireland on 66 for four but McMahon stayed with the captain to put on 69 and Arlene Kelly and Dempsey added 52 for the seventh wicket.

The target for Ireland in the final game back on Clontarf on Friday will be to get among the wickets.

SCORES - Ireland Women 213-8 (G Leewis 59, G Dempsey 45 not out, S McMahon 42, A Kelly 16, R Delaney 11; S Ismail 3-31, N De Klerk 2-31)

South Africa Women 217-1 (38.4 overs, L Goodall 93 not out, A Steyn 84 not out; G Dempsey 1-59).

South Africa won by 9 wickets.