Ross Adair hit a century as Ireland recorded their first T20 international win over South Africa at the seventh attempt.

Having suffered an eight-wicket defeat on Friday, Ireland responded well to win by 10 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and draw the two-match series.

Adair top-scored with the bat for Ireland with his maiden 100 in T20 cricket as his team made 195 from their 20 overs.

South Africa fell just short of the competitive total, ending on 185, with Ross' brother Mark Adair claiming four wickets.

A three-match one-day international series between the two sides will start on Wednesday.

The young South African squad, and Ireland, are starting a new cycle leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

South Africa, who reached the T20 World Cup final in June, came into the matches against Ireland on the back of an ODI series defeat by Afghanistan in Sharjah.

Ross Adair stars in place of absent Balbirnie
Ireland made one change to the side from Friday, with Graham Hume replacing Craig Young.

South Africa won the toss and elected for Ireland to bat first.

With regular opening batsman Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20 encounters, Ireland began the game with the top-two pairing of Ross Adair with Paul Stirling, as they did on Friday.

The two formed a formidable partnership with a 137-run opening stand, Ireland's second biggest in the T20 format.

It included a half century for Stirling from just 31 balls alongside Adair's brilliant century, which was only Ireland's third in this format.

Adair managed 100 from just 58 deliveries, hitting nine sixes and five fours.

George Dockrell managed 20 and Harry Tector added five runs as Ireland moved to 195, their highest T20 total against South Africa.

The second innings was all about another Adair, this time brother Mark.

He claimed three wickets in the penultimate over to help Ireland to the famous victory.

South Africa had started well as they did on Friday with their opening partnership registering 50 from the first wicket before Hume bowled out Ryan Rickelton for 36.

Reeza Hendricks was removed by Ben White after chalking up 50 with Aiden Markram then dismissed by Matthew Humphreys seven balls later.

That left them requiring 66 from 38, and whilst they lost Tristian Stubbs, Matthew Breetzke got 51 as he did on Friday to move the Proteas to within 23 runs of victory.

Adair would eventually bowl out Breetzke in a spell where he took two wickets from three deliveries and Ireland saw out the final over to draw the series.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1053 HRS, SEPT 30, 2024
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