END OF OVER:20 | 7 Runs 2 Wkts | SA: 185/9 (11 runs required, RR: 9.25)
- Lungi Ngidi3 (2b)
- Bjorn Fortuin0 (0b)
- Graham Hume4-0-25-3
- Mark Adair4-0-31-4
11:43pm That will be all from us for tonight. A historic evening for Ireland and we hope you enjoyed being a part of it. Until next time, this is goodbye from Chandan and myself. Take care, folks!
Here's Sampath: Teams to defeat most opponents in men's T20Is:
26 - Ireland (Played vs 30) 24 - Hong Kong (29) 23 - Zimbabwe (27) 21 - U.A.E. (28) 20 - Netherlands (24)
Ross Adair, the Player of the Match is also the Player of the Series: (On waiting for his chance in the squad with Balbirnie not part of the squad) He (Bablirnie) has been a big part of the squad. I knew if just stuck around long enough and worked hard, I would get a chance eventually. Looking forward to having him (Balbirnie) back in the squad at some stage. (On what feels better having played Rugby at a high level) Going to have to say the century. There are a lot of South Africans (back home) and have heard a lot from them about the quarter-finals and semi-finals (in Rugby), nice to get one over them tonight. They (his Ireland teammates) are a real good bunch of lads to be around. Coming from a rugby background, being around them, is real fun and they (cricket teammates) are as good, if not better (to be around). Looking forward to having a crack with them around the world. (On playing in Abu Dhabi) Completely different to being at home, wee bit warmer and the pitches are a little bit quicker. Abu Dhabi is a beautiful place and we have loved it here.
Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: At half-way, we wanted an extra 15-20 runs. They squeezed us and we felt under-par. There was less dew (tonight) and we managed to get over the line. (On why wickets felt in clusters) You need time at the crease to get the pace of the wicket. That is what won us the game. With new batters coming in, you always have a chance. We are absolutely delighted (with the win). Could have gone either way. Over the moon (with the result) and hopefully we can bring it into the ODIs.
Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: We thought it was chaseable for sure. Small moments in the game…it comes down to execution and if you can win those moments. (On what the players will take from this series) Each to their own, each guy will have a certain area to improve. We never really stop learning…ultimately making better decisions and winning games for South Africa. (On what went wrong) When you lose wickets regularly…you want a 20-30-run partnership. They made it tough for us.
11:20pm Well, that was frantic but from a South African perspective, rather disappointing. They had the chase under control, especially when five overs were left. But then, Breetzke suddenly lost his rhythm, Stubbs lost his cool (and his wicket) and the Proteas just could not recover. Their lower middle order also failed to come to the party, meaning that a relatively comfortable-looking run-chase, crumbled.
While South Africa's batting was poor, take nothing away from Ireland. They stuck to their guns, often continuing to bowl that wide line, even when they were giving away extras. And in the end, that paid off. The 18th and 19th overs went for five apiece and that gave Hume ample to defend in the final over even if, truth be told, he did not need that many.
The pick of the bowling bunch was Mark Adair. Whenever Ireland needed him to stand up, he did and his three-wicket penultimate over sucked out any momentum and hope South Africa had. Prior to that, Humphreys was exceptional, with his dismissal of Markram also proving to be a crucial moment in the game.
Ngidi in now. Two legal deliveries, and Ireland are home...
LB Williams c Humphreys b Hume 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Wiilliams is the new batter in. SA need 14 off 3, and a miracle. Hume goes around the wicket
PE Kruger b Hume 5 (8m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00