Irish fail in World Cup bid

Sunette Loubser bowls to Ciara Metcalfe

South Africa won by 7 wickets
Ireland 107 all out (47.4 overs, C Joyce 43*, Loubser 2-12, Smith 2-29)
South Africa 108-3 (27.4 overs, Anderson 46*, Isobel Joyce 2-21)

South Africa sealed a place at the ICC Women's World Cup in 2009 with a 7 wicket win over Ireland after a match winning innings from Olivia Anderson.

A delighted captain, Cri-Zelda Brits, hailed her side after booking a ticket for next year's global event in Australia.

'We're really relieved and very happy to have pulled it off' said Brits. 'The team haven't let me down since I've taken over the captaincy and we've stuck at it and come to the party at this event with the bowling.'

An inspired bowling performance from the hosts reduced Ireland to 107 all out, with only Cecilia Joyce putting up any kind of resistance as she carried her bat for 43* with the wickets shared amongst South Africa's excellent bowling attack.

Spinner Sunette Loubser, who took six wickets against Bermuda on the opening day of the event, was once again outstanding taking 2-12 in her 10 overs, while Alicia Smith also chipped in with two wickets.

And South Africa never really looked like they were going to have any problems reaching their target as an unbeaten 46 from Olivia Anderson, who won her second Player of the Match Award this week, helped her side to their target with 22.4 overs to spare.

Brits paid tribute to Anderson, who only made her debut for her country during this tournament.

'I'm very happy for Olivia. She has showed tremendous guts during this week and if we have fourteen other players like that then I'm ready for the World Cup!'

In contrast, the Irish team, who came into this week as one of the favourites to qualify for Australia, was left distraught by the defeat.

Irish captain Heather Whelan said: 'I think everybody is absolutely gutted. We trained so hard for so long for this in order to try to go to the World Cup in Australia but it's not going to be.

'We're not going to the World Cup but we will battle on and we'll be here again in four years looking for a place in the World Cup and we expect to make it next time.'