South Africa rallied around well to beat Ireland by five wickets to set off their ICC U19 World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

Runners-up from 2008, the Proteas elected to field after skipper Josh Richards called correctly at the toss.

The Irish lost four wickets for only 36 runs on the board and it looked like the South Africans would run through the lesser fancied team quickly.

However, Ben Ackland and Lee Nelson had other ideas. The duo added 117 runs for the fifth wicket after Rabian Engelbrecht’s double blow had left Ireland reeling after the eighth over.

Ackland chipped in with a patient 66 off 107 deliveries and hit four boundaries during his stay at the middle.

Nelson was the more aggressive of the pair, striking four boundaries and one six in his 75 ball 55, which lent some respectability to Ireland’s score at the end of 50 overs.

Dominic Hendricks (47) and Stephan Smith (67 NO), then made light work of the Irish though their bowlers dealt a few blows on the Proteas.

South Africa reached the target with 50 deliveries to spare.