As cricket fans around the world look forward to the upcoming T20I series between Ireland and South Africa, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting clash. This series offers Ireland a valuable opportunity to test their skills against a top-tier cricket nation, while South Africa will aim to assert their dominance and fine-tune their strategies.
File photo: Reeza Hendricks scored a half-century • ICC/Getty Images
South Africa 174 for 2 (Rickelton 76, Hendricks 51) beat Ireland 171 for 8 (Campher 49, Rock 37, Kruger 4-27) by eight wickets
South Africa completed the highest successful chase in Abu Dhabi and notched up a win in the first T20I to keep their unbeaten record against Ireland intact.
It was officially a home fixture for Ireland but was played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to solve cost and infrastructure challenges in Ireland. Ironically, South Africa seemed to be more familiar with conditions. After spending last week playing Afghanistan on dry, slow pitches in Sharjah, South Africa had adapted to the demands of the heat, and unlike in Sharjah, where the bounce was low, there was good bounce and carry in Abu Dhabi. Full, slower balls proved to be best wicket-taking options and South Africa understood that while Ireland struggled with dew and moisture in the field.
South Africa’s strikes in the powerplay and at the end of Ireland’s innings meant that although Ireland scored their second-highest T20I total against them, they did not have enough. Ireland were pegged back after almost every acceleration but a fourth-wicket stand of 59 runs off 41 balls between Curtis Campher and Neil Rock anchored the innings.
In reply, Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton shared in South Africa’s third-highest opening stand, and highest away from home, in T20Is and reached important milestones of their own. Hendricks scored his first fifty in 15 T20I innings and Rickelton registered a career-best 76, which was also his first international half-century. They complemented each other well, with Rickelton hitting high and hard over the leg side and Hendricks playing the classy off-side shots he has become known for. Neither stayed to the end, but South Africa got there with 14 balls to spare.
Push and pull in the powerplay
Ross Adair, not due to play this game until Lorcan Tucker was injured in training, made the first statement of intent when he hit a Lizaad Williams short ball over mid-on for the first boundary of the innings. He went on to take another 10 runs off Williams’ first over on the tour, after he missed out on the ODIs against Afghanistan, and hit Wiaan Mulder over his head for four before South Africa struck back. With Ross Adair’s strength down the ground, Aiden Markram placed Tristan Stubbs on the long-on boundary and he was in a good position to take the catch that dismissed the batter, who tried one big shot too many. Then it was the turn of another overlooked player from the Afghanistan matches, Ottneil Baartman, who struck with his third ball when he bowled Paul Stirling with a delivery that angled in and sailed through the bat-pad gap. But South Africa could not claim the early advantage.
Campher, playing in his 100th international for Ireland, took five balls to get his eye in and then drove Baartman through mid-off and for two more fours to get his run-scoring underway. At the end of powerplay, Ireland finished on 63 for 2, their second-best against South Africa, after scoring 67 for 2 in Bristol in 2022.
Peter’s timely breakthrough
In his third T20I, legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter had to wait until the 11th over to be called on and it was a fairly tough introduction. Campher and Neil Rock were settled, South Africa were rattled after they dropped Campher on 17 at the end of the ninth over and then misfielded to allow four at the end of the 10th. Rock hit Peter for four in an over that cost eight and he was replaced by Bjorn Fortuin and allowed to change ends. And then he struck. Peter bowled Rock with a delivery that straightened as he tried to sweep and ended a partnership that was threatening to take the game away. That wicket would prove crucial in the target Ireland ended up setting South Africa.
File photo: Patrick Kruger took four wickets•AFP/Getty Images
Death-bowling heroics from Williams and Kruger
At 163 for 5 after 18 overs, Ireland would have been eyeing a total over 180 but an excellent last couple of overs from South Africa’s seamers kept them to 171. Williams bowled the 19th over and, with a wide slip in place, stuck to a selection of wide yorkers. All Ireland managed were singles off every ball in that over. Then it was over to Patrick Kruger, who took pace off with immediate success. Dockrell played a swipe too early and was caught behind. Off the next ball, Fionn Hand tried to ramp Kruger but could only get the ball as far as short fine leg. Kruger’s hat-trick ball missed everything and cost a bye. His penultimate delivery brought another wicket as Mark Adair tried to hit him over the off side and was caught by Wiaan Mulder. Kruger finished with a triple-wicket maiden and South Africa only conceded eight runs in the last two overs.
Hendricks, Rickelton redeem themselves and South Africa’s batting
The big picture of South Africa’s batting woes against Afghanistan aside, the opening batters had questions over their form going into this game. Hendricks had only gone past 30 in three of his last 12 T20Is while Rickelton had a top score of 27 from eight white-ball internationals. Were they the best combination sans Quinton de Kock? Yes, they said, as they grabbed the chase by the scruff of the neck in the powerplay. Rickelton got the ball rolling with back-to-back boundaries off Mark Adair and showed his ability against the short and full balls. Hendricks only faced four balls in the first three overs but when given more of the strike, he made the most of it. He smashes four fours in six deliveries, to bring up 2000 runs in T20I cricket. Rickelton finished off the powerplay hitting Hand for two enormous sixes and South Africa were 58 for 0 in the powerplay. Two overs later, Rickelton reached his fifty off 30 deliveries. South Africa were 97 without loss at the halfway stage and the horse had bolted.
Conclusion
While South Africa may enter the series as favorites due to their experience and depth, Ireland’s potential to surprise should not be underestimated. The series is an excellent opportunity for Ireland to showcase their growth and for South Africa to solidify their team dynamics ahead of future international commitments. Cricket enthusiasts should keep an eye on this matchup for exciting performances and the potential emergence of new stars.
Curtis CampherReeza HendricksRyan RickeltonPatrick KrugerIrelandSouth AfricaIreland vs South AfricaAfghanistan vs South AfricaIreland vs South Africa
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent for South Africa and women’s cricket
