174/2 (17.4)
CR : 9.85
171/8 (20.0)
CR : 8.55
South Africa won by 8 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Ryan Rickelton
76(48)
SA won by 8 wickets
12:28 AM IST, 10:58 PM Local Time: A clinical batting display by South Africa led by their openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks guides the visitors to an 8-wicket win with 2.2 overs to spare. Ireland started well but could not press on with the bat and were outplayed in the second innings. This was the highest total chased down in T20IS in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing 172 for the win, South Africa got off to a solid start and it was all about the two openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks. The opening stand was worth 136 runs and that nearly killed the game. Reeza Hendricks scored 51 off 33 balls while Ryan Rickelton scored 76 off 48 balls. Both fell towards the end. In the end, Matthew Breetzke with 19* off 14 balls and skipper Aiden Markram with 17* off 12 balls made sure there were no further hiccups for the Proteas as they win the game in 17.4 overs by 8 wickets. 11 extras given by the fielding side.
Ireland struggled with the ball and dewy conditions and got only two wickets. A wicket apiece for Mark Adair and Craig Young. The rest of the bowlers remained wicketless.
Earlier in the game, Ireland were put into bat first by South Africa on a green pitch. Captain Paul Stirling fell cheaply. Ross Adair scored 18 off 10 balls. Harry Tector scored 16 off 15 balls. Curtis Campher looked good for his 49 off 36 balls. Neil Rock the keeper batter scored 37 off 28 balls. George Dockrell scored 21 off 16 balls. 20 extras given by the fielding side as Ireland faded away towards the end. They finished with 171/8 in 20 overs with 20 extras given by the fielding side.
Patrick Kruger was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/27 in 4 overs for South Africa. A wicket apiece for Wiaan Mulder, Ottneil Baartman, Bjorn Fortuin, and Nqaba Peter. The Proteas bowled well in the last 5 overs and that was the main difference in the end.
So, South Africa wins this game by 8 wickets with 14 balls left and it is they who take a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series with the final game on Sunday night. Stay tuned for the presentations.
Chasing 172 for the win, South Africa got off to a solid start and it was all about the two openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks. The opening stand was worth 136 runs and that nearly killed the game. Reeza Hendricks scored 51 off 33 balls while Ryan Rickelton scored 76 off 48 balls. Both fell towards the end. In the end, Matthew Breetzke with 19* off 14 balls and skipper Aiden Markram with 17* off 12 balls made sure there were no further hiccups for the Proteas as they win the game in 17.4 overs by 8 wickets. 11 extras given by the fielding side.
Ireland struggled with the ball and dewy conditions and got only two wickets. A wicket apiece for Mark Adair and Craig Young. The rest of the bowlers remained wicketless.
Earlier in the game, Ireland were put into bat first by South Africa on a green pitch. Captain Paul Stirling fell cheaply. Ross Adair scored 18 off 10 balls. Harry Tector scored 16 off 15 balls. Curtis Campher looked good for his 49 off 36 balls. Neil Rock the keeper batter scored 37 off 28 balls. George Dockrell scored 21 off 16 balls. 20 extras given by the fielding side as Ireland faded away towards the end. They finished with 171/8 in 20 overs with 20 extras given by the fielding side.
Patrick Kruger was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/27 in 4 overs for South Africa. A wicket apiece for Wiaan Mulder, Ottneil Baartman, Bjorn Fortuin, and Nqaba Peter. The Proteas bowled well in the last 5 overs and that was the main difference in the end.
So, South Africa wins this game by 8 wickets with 14 balls left and it is they who take a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series with the final game on Sunday night. Stay tuned for the presentations.
Player of the Match: Ryan Rickelton
Ryan Rickelton (Player of the Match): "It was a good wicket but we had an idea with our training that it might swing a bit. So just wanted to get through the initial phase of the swing because the new ball can obviously bring runs but can obviously get a few wickets as well. So once we found our groove and the ball stopped swinging, we decided to play quite well. The wicket was pretty good so fell into our laps I guess.
I don't think I'd even come close [to scoring 100]. I was just starting to get a few out of the middle and getting to 50 was quite nice feeling for me. Reeza and me always have a competition, we sort of have a go at each other for hitting sixes. Nice to see him get a few away as well.
The group is looking to play really positively. We had 10 wickets in the shed so we could win the game as soon as possible, that's the motive. With such incredible players behind, Reeza and I as well."
I don't think I'd even come close [to scoring 100]. I was just starting to get a few out of the middle and getting to 50 was quite nice feeling for me. Reeza and me always have a competition, we sort of have a go at each other for hitting sixes. Nice to see him get a few away as well.
The group is looking to play really positively. We had 10 wickets in the shed so we could win the game as soon as possible, that's the motive. With such incredible players behind, Reeza and I as well."
Paul Stirling (Ireland Captain): "I think we were targeting 190-200. But we lost our way after 15 overs. They bowled well and credit to them. 171 was under par. Yes, I think it was good and hard to grip the balls. Full tosses came and we have to improve on that. I think we showed good fight and some youngsters did well as well in the end. Thanks Very much."
Aiden Markram (South Africa Captain): "It is nice to win in testing times for us. You never take wins for granted. I think the boys really played well tonight, tough conditions from gripping the ball point of view and bowling side of things. I thought they managed it really well and with the bat the opening partnership was quite special.
Reeza Hendricks has been our T20 player of the year for 2 years now. I think people forget there are types of things but great for him to get a score as well. Get some more confidence under his belt. He always does it in his own unique way and it's always good to watch. So really tough for him and chuffed for Ricks to get the score too.
It was interesting stuff from the spinners. Gripping the ball becomes tough. We thought the spinners might control some areas of the field much easier hence turning to spin. Its one of those nights it might work in your favor at times and it might not. You just have to deal with the rest that comes."
Reeza Hendricks has been our T20 player of the year for 2 years now. I think people forget there are types of things but great for him to get a score as well. Get some more confidence under his belt. He always does it in his own unique way and it's always good to watch. So really tough for him and chuffed for Ricks to get the score too.
It was interesting stuff from the spinners. Gripping the ball becomes tough. We thought the spinners might control some areas of the field much easier hence turning to spin. Its one of those nights it might work in your favor at times and it might not. You just have to deal with the rest that comes."
That's it from the coverage of this first T20I between Ireland and South Africa with the Proteas coming out on top in the end. Both teams will be back in action on Sunday night for the second and final T20I. Do join us for that one and stick around to our network for all other cricketing actions across the globe and across formats in our network.
For now, this is Ayan Chatterjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Ninaad Dixit and Deepak Prakash alongside scorer/analyst Chandan Kumar Singh. Stay safe, happy, and cool. Goodnight and CHEERS!
For now, this is Ayan Chatterjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Ninaad Dixit and Deepak Prakash alongside scorer/analyst Chandan Kumar Singh. Stay safe, happy, and cool. Goodnight and CHEERS!