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South Africa win record chase
This was a high-stakes first T20I where South Africa chased 172 quite comfortably to give Ireland an eight-wicket loss. The Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium continues to witness the highest successful chase -172 - as South Africa made the run chase at ease against Ireland. This is the first game of Ireland that is officially listed but has chosen the venue for cost-cutting and managing infrastructure challenges in Ireland. Ironically, the South Africans appeared more comfortable with the conditions, having played Afghanistan at similar slow tracks in Sharjah not long ago. And then, there was the track in Abu Dhabi, on which the ball was once again flying handsomely, to the good advantage of South Africa and the cost of Ireland that struggled against the dew and moisture.
Thanks to a high Ireland total against South Africa, 195 was still too little. Curtis Campher and Neil Rock complemented each other well with a 59-run stand, but South Africa's effective powerplay bowling and finish proved too tight for Ireland, as they finally settled at 171.
Back-to-the-wall South African openers
South Africa's openers Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton then took charge of chasing. Hendricks ended a long lean patch by scoring his first half-century in 15 T20I innings while Rickelton had his first international fifty, as well as a career-best 76.
Together, they produced South Africa's third-highest opening partnership in T20Is and their highest away from home. The pair complemented each other perfectly—Rickelton targeted the leg side with powerful strokes, while Hendricks displayed his trademark elegance through off-side shots. It was saving a lost cause as South Africa chased the target with 14 balls to spare.
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Powerplay threw the dice and also lived to tell the tale
Ireland did look intent from the very word go. Ross Adair, who impressed after being thrust into the side in lieu of Lorcan Tucker who was out injured, fired off a flurry of boundaries initially, especially on Lizaad Williams and Wiaan Mulder. But South Africa too bounced back quickly. Aiden Markram pushed Tristan Stubbs on the long-on boundary to send Adair packing, who miscued a big shot. In the next ball, Ottneil Baartman, playing his maiden game of the tour, bowled Paul Stirling through the gap and squared the equation. By the powerplay end, Ireland had reached 63 for 2, which is their best score in the powerplay against South Africa so far.
Important breakthrough by Peter
The third T20I veteran Nqabayomzi Peter didn't have the best of starts; still, Ireland capitalized on fielding errors and perhaps a dropped catch that sent Campher away to a flyer. The match saw switch ends, and soon enough Peter started clawing his way back into the game as he bowled a delivery that straightened, cutting off Ireland's accelerating combination, Neil Rock. This wicket proved pretty vital in keeping Ireland at a manageable score South Africa had to chase in reply.
Tight death bowling from Williams and Kruger
With two overs to go and 163 for 5, Ireland appeared set to comfortably cross the 180-run mark. The South African bowlers dug deep and defended well. Williams asserted himself in the 19th over with wide yorkers down the pitch and gave away only singles. Patrick Kruger took the final over and bowled to perfection with an emphasis to the slower balls' impact. He dismissed George Dockrell and Fionn Hand off successive balls, and while the hat-trick proved elusive, Kruger was able to pick up another wicket when the form changed for Mark Adair's dismissal as well. The latter finished his triple-wicket maiden. South Africa conceded but eight runs from the last two overs to keep Ireland at 171.
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Consolation for Hendricks and Rickelton
South Africa's opening pair had faced a lot of flak before the match. Hendricks had struck 30 only three times in the last 12 of his T20Is, and Rickelton's top score from his eight white-ball internationals was just 27. But both were the definition of impossible to silence. One behaved like a new man: four successive boundaries. The other waited for his rhythm to match the tempo: four boundaries in six balls, crossing 2000 career runs in T20Is. At the midpoint of the South African effortless and leisurely march at 97 for no loss, he had hit his half-century off 30 balls. Their partnership ensured a comfortable victory for South Africa while also setting up their supremacy over Ireland.
Flashes
South Africa dominated both batting and bowling to win pretty comprehensively and extend their unbeaten record against Ireland. Ireland showed good flashes, particularly through Campher and Rock, but could not capitalize at the crucial moment. In short, they must learn to capitalize on these moments of optimistic flashes of glory. South Africa appears to be in a good disposition with Hendricks and Rickelton finally getting into form ahead of further matches.
With inputs from agencies
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