Chronicle Editor
A brilliant, unbeaten half-century from David Miller and yet another remarkable, match-winning analysis of 4-0-14-3 from Tabraiz Shamsi saw the Proteas to a 2-0 series-clinching victory by 42 runs in the second T20 International against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, yesterday.
The victory margin was seriously flattering for the Proteas having required 58 desperately-needed runs for the sixth wicket from Miller and Wiaan Mulder after slumping to an embarrassing 58-5 before recovering to 159-7 in their 20 overs and dismissing Ireland for 117 in 19.3 overs.
Miller struck 24 from the final over bowled by Joshua Little to add a touch of unexpected gloss to a total which seemed destined to give Ireland a great chance of levelling the series for the vast majority of the innings.
But Miller smashed four fours and five huge sixes in the closing overs to finish with an unbeaten 75 from 44 balls while Mulder provided some much-needed lower-order fibre during an innings of 36 from 26 balls with a pair of fours and sixes.
Ireland’s run-chase was immediately undermined when veteran Kevin O’Brien chipped the second ball of the innings straight back to left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin and captain Andy Bilbirnie (6) edged Beuran Hendricks to ‘keeper Quinton de Kock. Shamsi then snatched away any serious chances of an upset for the Irish with three of the next four wickets during a miserly four overs.
Key batsmen Paul Stirling (19), George Dockrell (20) and Shane Getkate (24) were all bamboozled by the left arm wrist spinner and caught in various parts of the outfield while part-time offspinner Aiden Markram teased a leading edge from Harry Tector (3) which was well caught at extra cover by Fortuin.
Fortuin then collected two tail-end wickets to finish with a highly creditable 4-1-16-3.
The tourists looked destined for trouble when Proteas captain Temba Bavuma (0) slashed his second ball from Stirling to Little at backward point and Janneman Malan played an almost identical shot to his second ball from the same bowler and was caught by the same fielder as the tourists slumped to 0-2 after choosing to bat first.
Markram (8) was bowled by a nippy off-cutter from Mark Adair and Rassie van der Dussen (6) was caught by ‘keeper Lorcan Tucker off Little (4-0-42-1). But when De Kock was trapped lbw by spinner Simi Singh for 27 from 20 balls (5×4) it looked a long road back to respectability for the Proteas.
But Miller’s hitherto quiet tour of the Emerald Isle burst into dramatic life and, with Mulder’s valuable assistance, the Proteas’ blushes were again spared.
The Proteas are now two-nil up in the three-match series that serves as preparation for both teams for the ICC T20 World Cup, to be hosted by India in Oman and the United Arab Emirates from 17 October to 14 November. The final match of the series is in Belfast tomorrow.
South Africa made three changes to the team that beat Ireland by 33 runs in Dublin on Monday with Mulder replacing George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin coming in for Kagiso Rabada and Beuran Hendricks taking over from Lizaad Williams. Ireland made one change with Craig Young replacing Barry McCarthy.
Teams
IRELAND: Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie(c), George Dockrell, Harry Tector, Simi Singh, Lorcan Tucker(w), Shane Getkate, Mark Adair, Craig Young, Joshua Little
SOUTH AFRICA: Temba Bavuma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi — MWP
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