Trent Johnston claimed three wickets and John Anderson produced another battling innings of 40 in Strabane yesterday, but it wasn't enough to prevent Ireland suffering a heavy loss to South Africa A.

A second-string Ireland line-up that had struggled to two rain-affected draws against the powerful tourists in four-day games found no hiding place in a 50-overs clash in Co Tyrone and lost another interrupted match by 68 runs on the D/L method.

YMCA veteran Johnston took wickets at the start and end of the innings to finish with 3-33 and the returning Peter Connell had figures of 3-62 as South Africa A posted an imposing 255-9 on the small club ground.

After a steady second-wicket partnership of 45, any hopes of an Ireland victory disappeared as Ryan McLaren removed James Shannon for 33 and Kevin O'Brien in successive balls and Andrew White also fell without scoring in the following over.

Opener Anderson held the innings together, but the Merrion captain was lbw after hitting five boundaries and Ireland were heading for defeat on 136-7 when heavy rain ended the pain.