Player of the Match
Player of the Match

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.

19.6
1
Hume to Ngidi, 1 run, there it is - history for Ireland! They have finally gotten the better of South Africa in a T20I, and what a way to do it! Hard length on off. Ngidi swings like there is no tomorrow and scuffs it towards long off. Smiles and embraces from those in the Irish camp. They have kept their heads beautifully, even as the more pedigreed outfit lost theirs. A game that this Irish team and their fans will remember, reminisce and rejoice for a long, long time. And probably a contest that South Africa, especially after the events of Barbados a couple of months ago, would want to erase from their memory as soon as possible!
19.5
2
Hume to Ngidi, 2 runs, low full toss outside off. Ngidi swings like a rusty gate and squirts it away past backward point. Picks up a brace for his troubles

Ngidi in now. Two legal deliveries, and Ireland are home...

19.4
W
Hume to Williams, OUT, it is raining wickets in Abu Dhabi and South Africa are crumbling like a pack of cards! Slower bumper outside off and this gets awfully big on Williams. Because of how the game is placed, he has to go after it and skews it off the top edge. Easy catch for Humphreys at short third, and Ireland are almost there!

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

19.3
W
Hume to Kruger, OUT, Hume holds his nerve and Kruger is outta here! Is that the game?! Hume knows Kruger is going to shuffle across and spears this into the blockhole, much closer to off stump. Kruger cuts himself off because of his initial trigger and ends up dragging it onto his stumps. Hume is off on his celebratory run and Ireland can touch it now!

PE Kruger b Hume 5 (8m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00

19.2
4
Hume to Kruger, FOUR, Kruger punches back! This game is not over yet! Not the cleanest of contacts but Kruger gets some bat on this full delivery wide outside off. Flies off the outside edge and clears short third comfortably!

South Africa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st50RR HendricksRD Rickelton
2nd71RR HendricksMP Breetzke
3rd9MP BreetzkeAK Markram
4th27MP BreetzkeT Stubbs
5th16MP BreetzkePWA Mulder
6th1PE KrugerMP Breetzke
7th4PE KrugerN Peter
8th4PE KrugerBC Fortuin
9th0LB WilliamsBC Fortuin
10th3L NgidiBC Fortuin