Ireland captain Gaby Lewis scored a half-century as they posted a respectable 213 against South Africa in the second ODI at the Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin on Tuesday.
The Proteas lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
After being asked to bat first, Ireland lost the early wicket of opener Leah Paul as she was bowled for 2 by SA fast bowler Shabnim Ismail.
Rachel Delaney edged behind off the bowling of Nadine de Klerk to depart for 11 and shortly after that, Raisibe Ntozakhe got new batter, Mary Waldron, to edge to Trisha Chetty for 1.
Sarah Forbes (9) ran herself out thanks to a stellar throw by Laura Wolvaardt.
Reeling at 66/4, the Irish ship steadied thanks to a 69-run partnership between captain Gaby Lewis and Sophie MacMahon.
Lewis brought up her seventh ODI half-century off just 70 balls as she kept the Irish scoreboard ticking in partly cloudy conditions in Dublin.
However, Proteas captain Sune Luus broke the partnership as the dangerous Lewis tried to cut but was instead bowled out for 59 off 88 balls (eight fours).
De Klerk struck once again as she bowled the settled MacMahon for 42 off 38 balls (hitting six fours).
A 52-run partnership formed between Arlene Kelly and Georgina Dempsey before Ismail bowled Kelly for 16.
Ismail captured her third wicket (3/31) as she bowled Alana Dalzell for 4.
Dempsey steered Ireland to a respectable 213/8 as she remained unbeaten on 45.
Scores in brief:
Ireland 213/8 in 50 overs (Lewis 59, Dempsey 45*, Ismail 3/31, De Klerk 2/19)
South Africa need 214 runs to win the second ODI