Ireland Register Their First Ever Win against South Africa
Ireland Cricket Team made a huge comeback to share the two-match T20I series against a young South African side. The T20 World Cup runners-up were unable to win the second match and had to settle for a draw. This series was hosted in Abu Dhabi and will be followed by three ODIs.
Easy chase in the first encounter
The first match was dominated by South Africa. Abu Dhabi is not a high-scoring ground. However, this series was different from other matches. Ireland batted first and posted 171 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
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63 runs were scored in the powerplay. Curtis Campher ended the innings as the highest run-scorer. He made 49 runs before giving away his wicket. Patrick Kruger was the pick of the bowlers as he took four for 27 in his four overs. He even bowled a maiden over.
South Africa were ready for the challenge. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks were smashing the bowlers all over the park. The duo had a stand of 136 runs in 13 overs. Rickelton scored 76 of 48 balls and Hendricks scored quickfire 51 of 33 balls. Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke took the team over the line in 17.4 overs with eight wickets remaining.
Ireland makes a comeback led by Ross Adair
Ireland was ready to make a comeback in the second match. Once again, they were batting first. Paul Stirling and Ross Adair did what Rickelson and Hendricks did to their bowlers in the first match. The opening partnership scored 137 runs in 13 overs. Stirling was the first player to get out. Ireland’s captain scored 52 runs in 31 balls.
Ross Adair continued his hitting. He scored his maiden T20I ton in his 10th match for the national team. Adair played 58 balls in his innings. He hit nine sixes and five fours. Ireland struggled a bit towards the end but managed to post 195 runs for the loss of six wickets. Wiaan Mulder took two wickets but was expensive as he gave away 52 runs in his four over. Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers. He gave only 23 runs and took one wicket.
Middle order struggles to take SA over the line
South Africa had a huge score to chase. Once again, the openers started the proceedings quickly. They scored 50 runs in 5.2 overs. In the very next ball, Rickelton gave his wicket to Graham Hume. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 36 in 22 deliveries.
Reeza Hendricks took the charge and got to his second fifty before giving his wicket away. South Africa were 121 for two in 12.3 over. Matthew Breetzke was on the other end. His teammates came and went after scoring at least a boundary in their innings. Breetzke scored a slow 51 of 41 balls. Other players struggled to reach double figures. South Africa lost the last five wickets for just nine runs. Their innings ended with 185 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Mark Adair took four for 31 and Hume took three for 25 to level the series.
Both matches were high-scoring with a lot of individual performances. Ireland will be happy to share a draw.
