Despite a topsy-turvy start, the Proteas have rallied back with a commanding all-round show to vanquish Ireland in the second and final T20I of the series.
Ireland opted to bowl first, giving themselves another opportunity to chase. It was, unfortunately, another familiar beginning for SA, as Quinton de Kock departed early after another unconvincing start.
Reeza Hendricks began briskly, but the wicket of de Kock immediately dried up the runs. Rassie van der Dussen arrived at first drop, but his scratchy stay came to an end when he tried to slog his way out of trouble against Andy McBrine’s offspin.
The scoring rate remained at a shade below a run-a-ball up until Aiden Markram took down McBrine for three sixes and a four in the 12th over. It seemed like this was the spark that SA badly needed, but legspinner Gareth Delany returned to remove both set batters. Hendricks fell short of what could’ve been his 5th consecutive T20I half-century by just 8, and Markram’s assault was kept to a cameo 27.
Ireland were in control, but the arrival of Heinrich Klaasen and skipper David Miller would ensure that the Proteas wrested back the advantage. Klaasen set the tone with two well-swept boundaries off Delany, and Miller would hit a six in the same over.
Both batters plundered a total of 48 in the next two overs, and Ireland went from slightly in front to forcing damage control. Klaasen edged to third man but already did his job to devastating effect. A 7-ball 17 from Dwaine Pretorius nearly took the Proteas close to the 200 mark. However, two excellent overs from Josh Little and Barry McCarthy pulled things back, and the Proteas finished with 182 at halftime.
In response, Ireland struggled in the first two overs, and it was left-armer Wayne Parnell who got the first opening for the Proteas. Captain Andy Balbirnie mistimed a flick to cover, and on the very next delivery, Lorcan Tucker – the hero from last game – provided a straightforward catch to mid-on.
Paul Stirling briefly threatened, but a top-edged pull off Lungi Ngidi drew the drapes on his knock. Harry Tector and Curtis Campher tried to cobble together a partnership to potentially get their side back in contention, but it was Parnell who absolutely stole the show.
In the 15th over, Parnell notched up his first 5-wicket haul in this format. From the Powerplay to the death, he was fairly unplayable and reaped some well-deserved rewards.
Barry McCarthy came in at 8 down and unleashed a few powerful blows to take the game into the 19th over, but the fun and games came to a close when he hit one straight to Markram at deep midwicket.
The 44-run victory has secured a series whitewash, as well as four T20I wins in a row.
SA 182/6 in 20 overs (Hendricks 42, Klaasen 39 – Delany 4-0-24-2)
IRE 138 in 18.5 overs (Tector 34, McCarthy 33 – Parnell 4-0-30-5, Pretorius 3.5-0-33-3)
Photo by Ben Whitley/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
