Stirling and Adair added 137 runs
Paul Stirling and Ross Adair gave an excellent start to Ireland against South Africa. Both made a partnership of 137 runs in 13 overs for the first wicket. Captain Sterling scored 52 runs in 31 balls with the help of 7 fours and one six. 30 year old Adair scored his first century in T20 International cricket.
Ross Adair returned after playing an inning of 100 runs in 58 balls. His innings included 5 fours and 9 sixes. After this, apart from Dockrell, no Irish batsman played. The team lost 5 wickets in the last 5 overs while scoring 39 runs. Viaan Mulder got two successes.
South Africa's middle order failed
Ryan Rakelton and Reeza Hendricks gave South Africa a great start. Both added 50 runs in 28 balls. Rekelton was out after scoring 36 runs on 22 balls. After this, Riza along with Matthew Britzke added 71 runs for the second wicket. Both the batsmen scored half-centuries. Reeza Hendricks was out after scoring 51 runs in 32 balls. This is where South Africa's innings got derailed.
In the last 2 overs, South Africa needed 23 runs to win and 6 wickets were left. Mark Adair, brother of centurion Ross, dismissed Mulder, Breitzke and Kava Peter for 5 runs in the 19th over. He took four wickets in the match. Graham Hume took two wickets in the last over and restricted South Africa to 185 runs. Apart from the top-3, no South African batsman could touch double figures.
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