Orla Prendergast fell three runs short of a century at St George’s Park as Ireland put on a morale-boosting display in the second one-day international before slipping to a 74-run defeat by South Africa.

The victory margin flattered the World Cup finalists who were given a scare or two by the Girls in Green after posting a mammoth 375-6 at the fast scoring ground in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

Prendergast shared a third-wicket partnership of 93 with Amy Hunter, who made 64 from 66 balls, including a six and six fours, and then a further 80 with Leah Paul, before the latter was caught for 36 from the final ball of the 40th over.

At that stage the visitors were 251-5, compared to South Africa’s 256-3 but whereas the home side were able to build on the centuries of Laura Wolvaardt and Suné Luus and kick on, Ireland stuttered to 301 all out.

Prendergast holed out on 97 from 86 balls, an innings that contained 10 fours and two maximums, and while her departure condemned the tourists to their fourth straight defeat there was much to be encouraged by.

Indeed, the margin of loss might had been much smaller but for two poor decisions in the space of five deliveries: the first adjudging Hunter lbw — an ‘umpire’s call’ at the very best — and a bizarre ‘caught behind’ off the pad that sent Laura Delany on her way second ball.

Even so, when Cara Murray, playing her 100th international, was last out, Ireland were past 300 and had their fifth-highest total in ODIs, an uplifting effort ahead of the final match of the tour at the iconic Wanderers ground in Johannesburg on Friday.