SOUTH Africa annihilated Northern Ireland 88-25 in their World Netball Championship opener in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Thursday. The South Africans took just five minutes to open their account and by the end of the first quarter were 21-4 up. They led 47-9 at halftime and 66-17 after the third quarter. Skipper Irene van Dyk earned her 64th cap while fellow-veteran Dominique Harveson made her 52nd outing for the Proteas. Corlie Oberholzer was named player of the match. South Africa will face off against Barbados on Friday.