Match Center

Ireland face a quick turnaround as they gear up for the second and final T20I of the series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Proteas established their dominance in the series opener, securing an unassailable lead. Aiden Markram and his team will be keen to replicate that performance and complete a clean sweep, while Ireland will look to level the series and carry some momentum into the upcoming three-match ODI series. In the first T20I, after being asked to bat, Ireland got off to a promising start but faltered as they lost wickets at regular intervals. This prevented them from building any real momentum during the middle overs and they couldn't finish strongly. Despite that, they posted a competitive total, but their bowling efforts fell short. In pursuit of 172, South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks took full advantage of Ireland’s indiscipline with the ball, putting the game out of reach. The Proteas chased down the target in just 17.4 overs, marking the highest successful run chase in T20Is at this venue. Ireland's top order, featuring Ross Adair, Harry Tector, and captain Paul Stirling, failed to make a significant impact in the first game and will need to step up. Curtis Campher and Neil Rock showed promise and will have to ensure that once they get in, they capitalize on it. With the ball, Ireland’s bowlers struggled to back their batters, placing the onus on Mark Adair and Craig Young in the pace department. While Matthew Breetzke was tidy, Ben White will need to tighten up after a wayward performance. For South Africa, it was a collective bowling effort, with Patrick Kruger shining with a four-wicket haul. Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi missed out on the last game and could feature to get some game time ahead of the ODI series. Ireland, on the other hand, will be hoping for the return of Lorcan Tucker, who missed the first T20I due to injury, as his presence would bolster the batting lineup. With Ireland eager to make amends and South Africa aiming for a sweep, this promises to be an exciting encounter. Who are you rooting for?