1st T20I
Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks has comfortably dispatched the Ireland team
Ireland scored 171/8 in 20 overs, where as South Africa scored 174/2 in 17.4 overs.
So, finally South Africa beat Ireland by 8 wickets.
South Africa cruised to an easy 8-wicket win over Ireland in the first T20I in Abu Dhabi.
Patrick Kruger’s brilliant 4-wicket haul (4-27) set up the victory before openers Ryan Rickelton (76) and Reeza Hendricks (51) combined for a 136-run partnership in just 13 overs, making light work of the 172-run target.
A Steady Start for Ireland
South Africa chose to bowl first, anticipating the onset of dew.
Ross Adair took on Lizaad Williams in the opening over, hitting two fours and a six.
However, his quickfire 18 ended when he holed out to long-on.
Ireland’s captain Paul Stirling was bowled by Ottniel Baartman soon after.
Curtis Campher injected some momentum with three boundaries in one Baartman over, while Harry Tector followed suit against Williams, taking Ireland to a solid 63/2 by the end of the Power Play.
Kruger Takes Control for South Africa
Tector fell right after the Power Play, mistiming a reverse sweep.
Curtis Campher and Neil Rock stabilized the innings with a 59-run partnership.
Rock hit Kruger for a four and a six but was later bowled by leg-spinner Nqaba Peter in the 14th over.
Despite losing wickets, Ireland kept the scoreboard ticking with regular boundaries, including two sixes off Baartman in the 17th over.
With Ireland well-placed at 153/4, Kruger returned to break their momentum, dismissing Campher, one short of his fifty, and picking up three more wickets in his final over.
Ireland finished on 171/8.
SA Get Off to a Flying Start
South Africa’s chase began explosively as Rickelton broke free with two boundaries off Mark Adair.
Hendricks went a step further, hammering three boundaries off Adair in the fourth over.
Fionn Hand’s introduction did little to stem the flow of runs as Hendricks launched him for two sixes, guiding South Africa to 58/0 at the end of the Power Play.
Fifty for Rickelton
Both Hendricks and Rickelton took full advantage of the slippery conditions, punishing Ireland’s bowlers who struggled with their line and length due to the dew.
Rickelton brought up his maiden international half-century with a classy cut to sweeper cover.
South Africa Cruise to Victory
Post the drinks break, Hendricks powered his way to a fifty of his own with a couple of sixes but was trapped LBW by Craig Young shortly after reaching the milestone.
Rickelton followed in the next over, caught at cover-point.
With just 33 runs needed from 36 balls, Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke calmly saw South Africa home with 2.2 overs to spare.
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