IRE vs SA, 2nd T20 | South Africa beat Ireland by 44 runs

BRISTOL: Wayne Parnell claimed a fine career-best five-for as the Proteas beat Ireland by 44-runs in the second T20 International (T20I) to seal a 2-0 series win at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol on Friday night. The left-arm seamer also became only the fifth South African to take 50 wickets in the format with his return of five for 30 helping his team bundle out their opponents for just 138 in reply to a chase of 183.

It was a clinical win for the Proteas and rounded off an excellent limited-overs leg of their tour to the United Kingdom. They drew the earlier One-Day International (ODI) series 1-1 with England, who they then went on to beat 2-1 in their T20I duel.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first in this final short-format encounter, they went on to record a strong 182 for six. This was thanks in the main to opener Reeza Hendricks, whose previous four innings all yielded half centuries, although this time he fell narrowly short with 42 off 40 balls at the start of the innings.

At the other end, Quinton de Kock (seven) and Rassie van der Dussen (four) had struggled to find their range, but Hendricks again found support through Aiden Markram as he plundered three sixes in a 10-ball 27. Both were removed by Gareth Delany in an excellent 13th over leaving the visitors on 85 for four at that stage. 

Then came an explosive 71-run stand through Heinrich Klaasen (39 off 16 balls) and the fit-again stand-in captain David Miller (32 off 20 balls). The two found the fence almost at will to propel their team to a strong total at halfway. In reply, Parnell struck twice in the second over to severely jolt the Irish threat.

Paul Stirling batted aggressively for his 28, but could not sustain his charge and fell along with Gareth Delany (0) within the space of three balls as their team sunk to 40 for four. More trouble followed when Harry Tector finally fell in the 13th over for a top score of 34. When number 11 Barry McCarthy walked in the total was on 96 for nine, but he was in no mood to surrender meekly and instead crunched 32 before Ireland were bowled out with seven balls to spare.

Parnell’s five wickets allowed him to join Tabraiz Shamsi (69), Dale Steyn (64), Imran Tahir (61) and Kagiso Rabada (52) as the country’s leading wicket-taker. His figures also ensured he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is. The main support on the evening was through Dwaine Pretorius (3/33), while there was one each for Lungi Ngidi (1/14) and Tabraiz Shamsi (1/31).

The South Africans will now begin preparation for the upcoming Test series against England.

MATCH SUMMARY:

Ireland v South Africa, 2nd T20I, Bristol, 5 August 2022

South Africa 182-6 (20 overs; R Hendricks 42, H Klaasen 39; G Delany 2-24)

Ireland 138 (18.5 overs; H Tector 34, B McCarthy 32; W Parnell 5-30)

South Africa won by 44 runs