South Africa have sealed the series win with an excellent bounce back with the ball in the second game of the T20 series against Ireland.
After rallying back from a precarious 58/5 and posting a solid 159/7, the South Africans had to put together yet another accurate show with their bowling. The innings got off to an ideal start, with Kevin O’Brien tamely chipping one back to Bjorn Fortuin in the very first over.
After the dismissal of the Irish captain Balbirnie three overs later, George Dockrell and Paul Stirling were under the pump to lay down the platform to rescue the chase. However, Tabraiz Shamsi had other plans. He dismissed both of them in successive overs. And on both occasions, he successfully invited a poorly timed attempt to hit out of trouble.
Shane Getkate briefly flickered with a couple of maximums, but when he swept one to Bavuma at midwicket, the game was all but over. Fortuin came back and took two wickets in his final over, leaving the hosts eight down.
The final wicket stand between Adair and Little continued up until the final over, until Little was bowled by Lungi Ngidi, completing the Ireland innings at 117 all out, setting up a comfortable 42-run victory. South Africa have an unassailable lead, but it wasn’t without its challenges along the way.
Ireland 117 all out (Getkate 24, Dockrell 20 – Shamsi 4-0-14-3, Fortuin 4-1-16-3)
