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• South Africa beat Ireland in ODI opener to avenge T20I loss

  South Africa cruised to a 139-run win over Ireland in the teams' first ODI in Abu Dhabi, with Lizaad Williams tearing through their opponents' batting order.

  The Proteas approached Wednesday's contest reeling from a shock T20I defeat to Ireland on Sunday, with Ross Adair's maiden international century ensuring the two-match series ended 1-1.

  There was not to be a repeat in the 50-over format, however, with Ireland's batting order collapsing after Ryan Rickelton (91) and Tristan Stubbs (79) guided an otherwise shaky South Africa to 271-9.

  The Proteas started miserably by losing three wickets for 39 runs, Mark Adair taking two of them on his way to figures of 4-50.

  But opener Rickelton stayed cool while the wickets tumbled around him, lasting 102 deliveries and allowing Stubbs to join in on the act with comfortably his best ODI score, dragging South Africa to a respectable total.

  Ireland might have harboured hopes of a successful chase, but Paul Stirling's fourth-ball dismissal for just two runs set the tone, and a spate of four more wickets in the space of six overs dropped Ireland to 61-5.

  Williams finished with figures of 4-32 from his 10 overs for the Proteas, who needed just 32 overs to finish off the tail and bring some much-needed positivity to their tour of the United Arab Emirates, which started with an ODI series loss to Afghanistan.

  Data Debrief: Williams wins it 

  Rickelton and Stubbs carried South Africa to a score they were capable of defending despite no other batter scoring more than Bjorn Fortuin's 28 – seven scored 13 runs or fewer.

  But it was Williams who made sure of the victory, taking three of the first four wickets to leave Ireland in a tailspin, then going on to record the best figures of his young ODI career.

  In none of his previous five ODIs had Williams managed more than two wickets, while his 32 runs conceded were also his fewest in the format.

• Stirling 'over the moon' after historic Ireland win over South Africa

  Ireland captain Paul Stirling is "over the moon" after securing their first-ever T20I victory over South Africa, beating them by 10 runs.

  Brilliant performances from brothers Ross and Mark Adair set them on course to the win, as they drew the two-match series 1-1.

  Ross Adair scored his maiden international century, combining with Stirling for a superb opening partnership of 137, leading the team to 195-6, their highest T20I score against South Africa.

  Mark Adair then followed up that performance with an impressive stand in the field, finishing with 4-31, before Graham Hume's 3-25 rounded off the triumph.

  And Stirling was thrilled with how Ireland performed on both sides, particularly in the field.

  "At halfway, we wanted an extra 15-20 runs," he said.

  "They squeezed us, and we felt under-par. There was less dew [on Sunday] and we managed to get over the line.

  "You need time at the crease to get the pace of the wicket. That is what won us the game.

  "With new batters coming in, you always have a chance. We are absolutely delighted [with the win]. It could have gone either way. Over the moon [with the result] and hopefully we can bring it into the ODIs."

  South Africa started brightly, with both Reeze Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke getting 51 after Ryan Rickelton's opening 36.

  However, they soon collapsed after that, with none of the other eight batters able to reach double figures as they finished on 185-9.

  Captain Aiden Markram admitted that fine margins cost them on Sunday, but he still found positives to take from the series.

  "We thought it was chaseable for sure," he said. "Small moments in the game.

  "It comes down to execution and if you can win those moments. When you lose wickets regularly…you want a 20-30-run partnership. They made it tough for us.

  "Each guy will have a certain area to improve. We never really stop learning. Ultimately, making better decisions and winning games for South Africa."

  The two sides now turn their attention to the three-match ODI series, which starts on Wednesday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

• Kolisi delighted with Springboks resilience after Rugby Championship triumph

  South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was delighted with the character of his side as they defeated Argentina 48-7 to win the Rugby Championship title on Saturday.

  In a role reversal last week, the Pumas denied Kolisi’s team the chance to win the title with a game to spare, pipping them to the post in a thrilling 29-28 win.

  But the Springboks channelled the frustration from that near miss into a crushing win against the same opponents, and a first title in the competition since 2019.

  Kolisi said: “I am lost for words but it has been a journey and a half, after last week, the way we stood up today says a lot about our team.”

  The Springboks captain was also full of praise for his opponents, stating they will only improve in the coming years and that both sides share similarities.

  He told Sky Sports: “Argentina are a side you cannot look over, how hard they work and what they did to us last week - they are a proud nation, similar to South Africa, the way they use the ball like we do. They will only get better and better."

  Kolisi also reserved special praise for lock and long-time friend Eben Etzebeth, who became the most capped Springbok of all-time.

  "I want to say to my best friend Eben that I am so grateful to be on this journey with you," Kolisi said.

  "We have been together since we were 18 and you've been a true friend and you have led us in so many ways, the way you play the game.

  "I am so proud of you and pleased to be your friend. I can't wait to tell my grandkids I played with Eben Etzebeth. Cheers, my friend, I love you!"

  Having brought up that milestone, Etzebeth stated his desire to continue with the national team for as long as possible.

  He said: “Rugby is like a religion in our country, to play for the Boks is the ultimate. You cannot go any better than that and I don't want to, it's the best team.

  "Hopefully I stay fit and the coaches keep picking me. I will try my best."

  Pumas captain Julian Montoya, meanwhile, was upfront about his side’s poor performance.

  Montoya said: “Credit to South Africa, we were not good enough, they were the better team today.

  “Of course I am pleased with what we have done, but you are only as good as your last game, and we were not good enough today. We have to get better."