South African men Cricket National Team, The Proteas, handed Ireland a humiliating 139 runs in the first of three One-Day Internationals (ODI) on Wednesday with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs hitting half-centuries.

The victory also meant Proteas avenge a shock T20 loss to the same opponents last weekend and also followed an ODI series defeat against Afghanistan last month.

Rickelton who opened the batting in just his third appearance in the format, hit 91 off 102 balls with seven fours and three sixes, that being the 28-year-old’s highest score in all international cricket matches.

Middle-order batsman Stubbs, playing in only his fifth ODI, was equally unforgiving on Ireland’s bowlers, making 79 off 86 balls with two fours and four sixes as both men helped rescue South Africa from a perilous 39-3, putting on 152 for the fourth wicket as the Proteas made 271-9 off their 50 overs.

Mark Adair, who took four wickets in Ireland’s 10-run T20 win on Sunday, claimed another four-wicket haul on Wednesday as Ireland struggled to make headway against fast bowlers Lizaad Williams and Lungi Ngidi with their first five wickets falling for just 61 runs.

Only three Irish batsmen got past 20 with Williams, playing in just his fifth ODI, finishing with a career-best 4-32 off his 10 overs and were eventually bowled out for 132 in the 32nd over with veteran all-rounder George Dockrell top-scoring with a modest 21.

The second and third games of the series will take place at the same Abu Dhabi venue on Friday and Sunday.

Congo-born NBA legend, Dikembe Mutombo, has died from brain cancer at the age of 58.

The NBA Hall of Famer and eight-time NBA All-Star, who retired in 2009, lost the battle to a brain tumour he had been battling since he was diagnosed in 2022 on Monday, according to NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.

The Congolese-American spent 18 years playing in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

Nicknamed “Mount Mutombo” due to his towering height and defensive prowess, he was regarded as one of the greatest shot-blockers and defensive players of all time.

Outside of basketball, Mutombo
was also known for his humanitarian work.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” said Silver.

“On the court he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.

“He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa,” Silver added

Standing at 7ft 2in (2.18m) tall, Mutombo was discovered while studying at Georgetown University and was selected by the Nuggets with the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.

He twice reached the NBA Finals, first for the 76ers in 2001 and then the Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) two years later and led the NBA in blocked shots for five consecutive seasons and blocks per game for a record three consecutive seasons.

Following his retirement both the Hawks and Nuggets retired his number 55 shirt, and in 2015 he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

Mutombo was a global ambassador for the NBA and carried out humanitarian work in his home country.