Ireland vs South Africa Cricket: Full Timeline, H2H Records and Stats (2007–2024)
The Ireland cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline spans nearly two decades- from a one-sided World Cup meeting in 2007 to a competitive bilateral series in Abu Dhabi in 2024 where Ireland split results against one of cricket’s strongest Test nations. South Africa lead the ODI head-to-head 8–2 and the T20I head-to-head 6–1, but Ireland have won 2 of the last 5 matches played. This is the complete match-by-match breakdown of every encounter, every record, and every turning point.
Ireland vs South Africa at a Glance
The headline numbers tell a clear story: South Africa have dominated this rivalry across both white-ball formats since 2007. Yet the recent trend points in a different direction. Ireland’s wins in 2021 and 2024 confirm this is no longer a predictable contest.
- ODI Head-to-Head: South Africa lead 8–2 (1 no result) from 11 matches
- T20I Head-to-Head: South Africa lead 6–1 from 7 matches
- Last bilateral series: UAE 2024- SA won ODI series 2–1, T20I series drawn 1–1
- Most recent result: 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi, October 7, 2024- Ireland won by 69 runs
- First meeting: ICC Cricket World Cup, Providence, Guyana, April 3, 2007
Complete ODI Timeline: Match-by-Match Results
The ODI leg of the Ireland cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline covers 11 matches across four countries and three different ICC tournaments. South Africa won the first nine completed fixtures before Ireland broke through.
Read More: New Zealand national cricket team vs Bangladesh national cricket team timeline
ODI Results Table (2007–2024)
| # | Date | Venue | IRE Score | SA Score | Winner | Margin |
| 1 | Apr 3, 2007 | Providence, Guyana (WC) | — | — | South Africa | 7 wkts (D/L) |
| 2 | Jun 24, 2007 | Belfast | — | — | South Africa | 42 runs |
| 3 | Mar 15, 2011 | Kolkata (WC) | 141 | 172/3 | South Africa | 131 runs |
| 4 | Mar 3, 2015 | Canberra (WC) | — | — | South Africa | 201 runs |
| 5 | Sep 25, 2016 | Benoni | — | — | South Africa | 206 runs |
| 6 | Jul 11, 2021 | Dublin (Malahide) | — | — | No Result | — |
| 7 | Jul 13, 2021 | Dublin (Malahide) | 290/5 | 247 | Ireland | 43 runs |
| 8 | Jul 16, 2021 | Dublin (Malahide) | 276 | 346/4 | South Africa | 70 runs |
| 9 | Oct 2, 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 132 | 271/9 | South Africa | 139 runs |
| 10 | Oct 4, 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 169 | 343/4 | South Africa | 174 runs |
| 11 | Oct 7, 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 284/9 | 215 | Ireland | 69 runs |
South Africa dominated the first fourteen years of this rivalry without a single ODI defeat. Recent results suggest increased competitiveness- Ireland have won 2 of the last 5 ODIs, both in 2024.
Complete T20I Timeline: Match-by-Match Results
The T20I chapter of the Ireland cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline began in July 2021 with a three-match series sweep for South Africa. Ireland took until 2024 to record their first win in the shortest format against the Proteas.
T20I Results Table (2021–2024)
| # | Date | Venue | IRE Score | SA Score | Winner | Margin |
| 1 | Jul 19, 2021 | Dublin (Malahide) | — | — | South Africa | 33 runs |
| 2 | Jul 22, 2021 | Belfast | — | — | South Africa | 42 runs |
| 3 | Jul 24, 2021 | Belfast | 140/9 | 189/2 | South Africa | 49 runs |
| 4 | Aug 3, 2022 | Bristol | — | — | South Africa | 21 runs |
| 5 | Aug 5, 2022 | Bristol | — | — | South Africa | 44 runs |
| 6 | Sep 27, 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 171/8 | 174/2 | South Africa | 8 wkts |
| 7 | Sep 29, 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 195/6 | 185/9 | Ireland | 10 runs |
What most people miss: T20I margins tell the real evolution story. South Africa won by 33–49 runs in 2021, by 21–44 runs in 2022, and by just 8–10 runs in 2024 before Ireland levelled the series. The gap closed over three years before Ireland finally crossed the line.
Ireland vs South Africa: Full Records Database
Understanding the ireland cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline means going beyond results. The records section shows exactly where each side holds the edge.
Batting Records
| Record | Detail |
| Highest ODI total (SA) | 346/4– Malahide, Jul 16, 2021 |
| Highest ODI total (IRE) | 290/5– Malahide, Jul 13, 2021 |
| Lowest ODI total (IRE) | 132- Abu Dhabi, Oct 2, 2024 |
| Lowest ODI total (SA) | 215- Abu Dhabi, Oct 7, 2024 |
| Highest T20I total (IRE) | 195/6– Abu Dhabi, Sep 29, 2024 |
| Highest T20I total (SA) | 189/2– Belfast, Jul 24, 2021 |
| Highest individual innings (SA) | Janneman Malan 177*- Malahide, Jul 16, 2021 |
| Highest individual innings (IRE) | Simi Singh 109*- Malahide, Jul 16, 2021 |
| Highest successful ODI chase | Ireland: 291- Malahide, Jul 13, 2021 |
Highest Partnerships
| Format | Runs | Players | Match |
| ODI (SA) | 297 (1st wkt) | Janneman Malan (177*) + Quinton de Kock (120) | 3rd ODI, Malahide, Jul 16, 2021 |
| T20I (SA) | 136 (1st wkt) | Ryan Rickelton (76) + Reeza Hendricks (51) | 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi, Sep 27, 2024 |
The Malan–de Kock stand of 297 is the highest opening partnership ever recorded against Ireland in ODI cricket. Simi Singh’s 109* from number eight in the same match is also among the most remarkable lower-order innings in bilateral cricket history.
Leading Wicket-Takers (ODI )
Read More: Ireland cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline
| Player | Team | Wickets |
| Lungi Ngidi | South Africa | 4 |
| Lizaad Williams | South Africa | 4 |
| Graham Hume | Ireland | 3 |
| Robin Peterson | South Africa | 3 |
Best Bowling Figures (Scorecard-Verified)
| Format | Figures | Player | Match |
| T20I | 4/27 | Patrick Kruger (SA) | 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi, Sep 27, 2024 |
| ODI | 4/32 | Lizaad Williams (SA) | 1st ODI, Abu Dhabi, Oct 2, 2024 |
| ODI | 3/29 | Graham Hume (IRE) | 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi, Oct 7, 2024 |
| ODI | 3/40 | Craig Young (IRE) | 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi, Oct 7, 2024 |
| ODI | 3/32 | Robin Peterson (SA) | WC, Kolkata, Mar 15, 2011 |
Last 5 Matches
The most recent five encounters in the Ireland cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline all took place in Abu Dhabi in September–October 2024. Ireland won 2 of those 5 matches, making it the most competitive window in this rivalry’s history.
| Date | Format | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| Oct 7, 2024 | ODI | Abu Dhabi | Ireland | 69 runs |
| Oct 4, 2024 | ODI | Abu Dhabi | South Africa | 174 runs |
| Oct 2, 2024 | ODI | Abu Dhabi | South Africa | 139 runs |
| Sep 29, 2024 | T20I | Abu Dhabi | Ireland | 10 runs |
| Sep 27, 2024 | T20I | Abu Dhabi | South Africa | 8 wkts |
This is where the data gets interesting. South Africa won the first two ODIs by 139 and 174 runs. Ireland did not collapse. They came back in the third match, posted 284/9, and bowled South Africa out for 215. Paul Stirling top-scored with 88, Harry Tector added 60, and Graham Hume (3/29) and Craig Young (3/40) dismantled the chase. That response in a dead rubber- when the series was already lost- is the most accurate signal of where Irish cricket stands today.
Phase-by-Phase History: How This Rivalry Evolved
Phase 1 (2007–2016): World Cup Encounters Only
For the first decade, the ireland cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline existed almost entirely inside ICC World Cups. Ireland had no bilateral series access to a top-ranked Test nation of South Africa’s calibre. Every result was a South Africa win, with margins ranging from 42 to 206 runs. The 2011 World Cup at Kolkata remains a useful reference point- South Africa posted 272/7 and won by 131 runs, with Robin Peterson (3/32) and Morne Morkel (3/33) dismantling an Ireland batting lineup that had not played enough high-intensity fixtures in the preceding months. Match volume against top opposition was the structural problem, not talent.
Phase 2 (2021): Ireland’s First Win- and South Africa’s Record Reply
The July 2021 home series at Malahide was the turning point in this rivalry. Ireland won the second ODI by 43 runs– their first-ever victory against South Africa in any format. Andrew Balbirnie scored 55, Harry Tector made 70, and George Dockrell took 3 wickets to bowl South Africa out for 247 in reply to Ireland’s 290/5. Three days later, South Africa delivered one of the most crushing batting performances ever seen at Malahide. Malan (177*) and de Kock (120) put on 297 for the first wicket– the highest opening partnership against Ireland in ODI history. South Africa posted 346/4 and won by 70 runs. The same 2021 series also confirmed the T20I gap: South Africa swept all three games by 33–49 runs.
Phase 3 (2022–2024): Abu Dhabi and the Competitive Era
The 2024 UAE series represented the most complete performance Ireland have produced against South Africa across a full bilateral programme. Ireland posted 195/6 in a T20I and won by 10 runs. They then absorbed two heavy ODI defeats before posting 284/9 and winning the final ODI by 69 runs. Ireland’s record across this entire rivalry- 2 ODI wins from 11 and 1 T20I win from 7– still shows South Africa’s overall advantage clearly. But recent results suggest increased competitiveness that was not present between 2007 and 2019.
Venue Analysis: Where This Rivalry Has Been Played
Dublin (Malahide)- 4 ODIs
Malahide produced the most dramatic cricket in this rivalry’s history. Ireland won here once, South Africa once, and one game was washed out.
| Match | Date | Result |
| 1st ODI | Jul 11, 2021 | No Result |
| 2nd ODI | Jul 13, 2021 | Ireland won by 43 runs |
| 3rd ODI | Jul 16, 2021 | South Africa won by 70 runs |
Ireland’s highest ODI total against South Africa (290/5) and South Africa’s highest ODI total against Ireland (346/4) were both scored at this ground within three days of each other. That 2021 series remains the statistical centrepiece of the entire Ireland cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline.
Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Stadium)- 5 Matches (2024)
Ireland won 1 ODI and 1 T20I at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in 2024. The flat, batsman-friendly surface produced the highest-scoring T20I in this rivalry (195/6 by Ireland) and Ireland’s highest winning margin in any format against South Africa (69 runs).
Single-Match Venues
South Africa won all matches at Providence, Belfast (2007), Kolkata, Canberra, Benoni, and Bristol. No bilateral fixture has been repeated at any of these venues.
Key Milestones in the Ireland vs South Africa Cricket Timeline
The ireland cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline has produced several moments that permanently altered how both sides are assessed.
- April 3, 2007: First ever meeting- ICC World Cup, Providence. South Africa won by 7 wickets (D/L)
- March 15, 2011: South Africa post 272/7 at Kolkata World Cup. Peterson 3/32 and Morkel 3/33 are the best bowling figures at this stage
- September 25, 2016: South Africa win by 206 runs at Benoni– the largest margin in this rivalry
- July 13, 2021: Ireland’s first ODI win– 290/5 defended at Malahide, won by 43 runs
- July 16, 2021: Malan (177*) and de Kock (120) put on 297– highest opening stand in this fixture
- September 27, 2024: Patrick Kruger takes 4/27– best T20I bowling figures in this rivalry
- September 29, 2024: Ireland’s first T20I win– 195/6 defended at Abu Dhabi, won by 10 runs
- October 7, 2024: Ireland’s largest ODI win– 284/9 defended, South Africa bowled out for 215
FAQs:
Q1. What is the Ireland vs South Africa ODI head-to-head record?
A1. South Africa lead 8–2 with 1 no result across 11 ODIs. Ireland won at Malahide in July 2021 and Abu Dhabi in October 2024.
Q2. What is the Ireland vs South Africa T20I head-to-head record?
A2. South Africa lead 6–1 from 7 T20Is. Ireland won their only T20I on September 29, 2024 at Abu Dhabi by 10 runs.
Q3. When did Ireland beat South Africa for the first time in any format?
A3. Ireland beat South Africa for the first time in any international format on July 13, 2021, in a bilateral ODI at Malahide, Dublin. Ireland won by 43 runs.
Q4. What was the result of the Ireland vs South Africa UAE 2024 series?
A4. South Africa won the three-match ODI series 2–1. The two-match T20I series ended 1–1. All five matches were played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Q5. Who scored the highest individual innings in this rivalry?
A5. Janneman Malan holds the highest individual innings- 177 not out for South Africa at Malahide on July 16, 2021. For Ireland, Simi Singh scored 109 not out from number eight in the same match.
Q6. What is the biggest partnership in Ireland vs South Africa matches?
A6. The biggest partnership is 297 runs for the first wicket by Janneman Malan (177*) and Quinton de Kock (120) at Malahide in the 3rd ODI on July 16, 2021. It is also the highest opening partnership ever recorded against Ireland in ODI cricket.
Q7. Who is the leading ODI wicket-taker for South Africa against Ireland?
A7. Lungi Ngidi and Lizaad Williams are joint-leading wicket-takers for South Africa in ODIs against Ireland, with 4 wickets each.
Q8. Who are the leading wicket-takers for Ireland against South Africa?
A8. Graham Hume leads with 3 ODI wickets against South Africa, all taken in the October 2024 Abu Dhabi series. Craig Young also took 3 wickets in the same match.
Q9. What is the biggest winning margin in Ireland vs South Africa cricket history?
A9. South Africa’s largest win was 206 runs at Benoni on September 25, 2016. Ireland’s largest win was 69 runs at Abu Dhabi on October 7, 2024.
Q10. Have Ireland and South Africa ever met in a T20 World Cup?
A10. No. As of May 2026, Ireland and South Africa have not met in a T20 World Cup. Their only ICC tournament meetings were at the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cups, both won by South Africa.
Related Posts
India National Cricket Team vs Bangladesh National Cricket Team Timeline: Complete History, Records and Stats (1988–2025)
England Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline: Complete Rivalry History (1889–2026)
