1st T20I, Abu Dhabi, September 27, 2024, 09:00 PM
Ireland
171/8(20.0ov)
South Africa
174/2(17.4ov)
South Africa beat Ireland by 8 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Ryan Rickelton
Commentry
Right then, that's it from the coverage of this game. South Africa will be delighted with this victory, as this was the highest total chased down in T20Is in Abu Dhabi. Now, they will be eyeing to seal the deal in the next encounter which is on 29th September 2024. The first ball will be at 3.30 pm GMT. Although you can join us early for the build-up. ADIOS!
Aiden Markram, the skipper of South Africa is in for a chat. He expressed his satisfaction with the win, especially during challenging times for the team, emphasizing that victories should never be taken for granted. Praised the players for performing well under tough conditions, particularly highlighting the difficulties in gripping the ball and managing the bowling. States that the opening partnership was quite special.
Paul Stirling, the captain of Ireland is in for a chat. He mentioned that the team had been targeting a score of around 190-200 but lost their way after the 15-over mark. He gave credit to the opposition for bowling well and acknowledged that 171 was slightly under par. Reflecting on the conditions, noted that it was difficult to grip the ball, which led to some full tosses, an area the team will need to improve on. Despite the challenges, he praised the team for showing good fight, particularly highlighting the efforts of the youngsters towards the end. He concluded by expressing his gratitude.
Ryan Rickelton wins the Player of the Match award for his stunning knock of 76 runs. He says that it was a good wicket but they had an idea with the training that it might swing a bit. Adds that once they found the groove and the ball stopped swinging, they decided to play quite well. Ends by sharing that the wicket was pretty good so fell into their lap.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the innings, Ireland got off to a quick start, thanks to Ross Adair, but they kept losing wicket at regular intervals once he slipped out, which kept breaking their flow. Curtis Campher's 49 gave them some boost, but the same story repeated in the death, when the wickets kept tumbling. Patrick Kruger stood out with the ball earlier with his four wicket haul.
Ireland, desperate for a breakthrough, found hope when Craig Young delivered a top ball to dismiss Hendricks. Soon after, Mark Adair struck, sending the well-set Rickelton back to the pavilion, giving Irish fans a glimmer of hope with both openers gone in quick succession. However, any chance of a comeback was swiftly extinguished as Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke comfortably guided their side home with 14 balls to spare. The dew proved to be a major setback for Ireland’s defense, making it difficult to contain the chase.
South Africa were off to a flier. Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks set the tone early, launching an aggressive assault during the Powerplay that left Ireland on the back foot. Rickelton, the primary aggressor, recorded a brilliant half-century, while Hendricks provided steady support. By the halfway mark, the pair had taken their team to a commanding 97 for no loss, with Rickelton on 56 and Hendricks on 34, making it a one-sided affair in the first half of the chase.
What a game! What a finish. South Africa win the game by 8 wickets. That is a dominant victory and they take a 1-0 lead in this two-match series. A tough day at the office for Ireland. They will try to make amends in the final encounter.
In over# 18
4
0
1wd
1
0
Mark Adair 31/1(3.4)
17.4
4
FOUR! Breetzke hits the winning runs! Low full toss, around off. Breetzke times it through the extra cover and mid-off region, finds the boundary, and South Africa are home by 8 wickets with more than two overs to spare.
17.3
.
Yorker length delivery on off. Breetzke squeezes it to backward point.
17.3
1wd
WIDE! Lands it full and well outside the tramline. Left alone. Wide signaled.
17.2
1
Slower and fuller, outside off. Markram drives it to sweeper cover for a single.
17.1
.
Full toss, angling into the middle. Markram stabs it to point.
In over# 17
0
6
1
4
0
1
Fionn Hand 38/0(3)
16.6
.
Low full toss, outside off. Breetzke drives it straight to the man at extra cover. Just 4 needed now.
16.5
6
SIX! BANG! Short of a length, angling in. Breetzke picks the length and muscles it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
16.4
1
Full and at the stumps. Markram eases it to long-on for one.