South Africa registered a comfortable 8-wicket win over Ireland in the first T20I in Abu Dhabi. Patrick Kruger took four wickets (4-27), after which South Africa openers Ryan Rickelton (76) and Reeza Hendricks (51) shared a 136-run stand in 13 overs, making the 172-run chase easy.
Ireland off to a good start
South Africa decided to bowl first with the expectation of dew. Ross Adair smashed Lizaad Williams in the first over and hit two fours and a six. Adair’s 18-run innings ended with him being caught at long-on. Irish captain Paul Stirling was bowled by Otniel Bartman. Debutant batsman Curtis Campher hit three fours off Bartman in the fifth over, while Harry Tector repeated the feat off Lizaad Williams in the next over, helping Ireland reach 63 for 2 in the powerplay.
Kruger does damage control for South Africa
Tector was dismissed soon after the powerplay, missing a reverse sweep. Neil Rock and Campher held the innings together and put together a 59-run partnership. The former hit a four and a six off Kruger, but was bowled in the 14th over by legspinner Nkaba Pieters. The Irish continued to hit a boundary in each of the next overs, before the latter was hit for two sixes off Bartman in the 17th over. In a good position at 153 for 4, Kruger came back and dismissed Campher, who was one run away from a half-century, and then took three wickets in his final over. Ireland made 171 for 8.
South Africa off to a blistering start
In reply, Rickelton broke the momentum by hitting two fours off Mark Adair. His partner Reeza Hendricks went one better two overs later by hitting three fours off Adair. The bowling changes did not work for Ireland either, as Fionn Hand was conceded two sixes, as South Africa ended the powerplay at 58/0.
Rickelton hits half-century
Hendricks and Rickelton took advantage of the dewy conditions, as the Irish team were missing line and length, unable to grip the wet ball. The batsmen found the fence at least once in every over, keeping the asking rate under control throughout. Rickelton scored his first international half-century by cutting to sweeper cover.
South Africa win
After the drinks break, Hendricks smashed a couple of sixes and also completed his half-century. But, he was soon caught in front by Craig Young. Rickelton took a catch at cover-point in the next over.
With 33 runs needed from 36 balls, Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke completed the match with 2.2 overs to spare.
Brief scores: Ireland 171/8 in 20 overs (Curtis Campher 49, Neil Rock 37; Patrick Kruger 4-27) lost to South Africa 174/2 in 17.4 overs (Ryan Rickelton 76, Reeza Hendricks 51; Craig Young 1-25) by 8 wickets.
