South Africa 174 for 2 (Rickelton 76, Hendricks 51) defeated Ireland 171 for 8 (Campher 49, Kruger 4-27) by eight wickets.
South Africa pulled off the highest successful chase in Abu Dhabi, securing a victory in the first T20I and maintaining their unbeaten record against Ireland.
Although it was technically a home match for Ireland, the game was played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to address cost and infrastructure challenges in Ireland. Ironically, South Africa appeared more comfortable in the conditions. After spending the previous week on dry, slow pitches in Sharjah against Afghanistan, South Africa had adapted to the heat. Unlike Sharjah’s low bounce, Abu Dhabi offered better bounce and carry, with slower, full deliveries proving effective for taking wickets. South Africa grasped this, while Ireland struggled with dew and moisture in the field.
Key wickets during the powerplay and the closing stages of Ireland’s innings meant that, although Ireland posted their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, it wasn’t enough. Despite frequent setbacks, Curtis Campher and Neil Rock stabilized the innings with a 59-run partnership off 41 balls. Campher, playing his 100th international for Ireland, was just shy of a half-century, falling for 49.
In response, Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton put together South Africa’s third-highest opening partnership in T20Is and their highest on foreign soil. Hendricks scored his first half-century in 15 innings, while Rickelton hit a career-best 76, marking his maiden international half-century. Their partnership was marked by Rickelton’s aggressive leg-side hitting and Hendricks’ classy offside play. Though neither remained until the end, South Africa reached the target with 14 balls to spare.
Push and pull in the powerplay
Ireland’s Ross Adair, initially not slated to play until Lorcan Tucker’s training injury, set the tone by striking a boundary off Lizaad Williams’ short ball. Adair added 10 more runs off Williams’ first over, having missed the ODIs against Afghanistan, before hitting Wiaan Mulder for a boundary. South Africa retaliated swiftly. Aiden Markram strategically placed Tristan Stubbs on the long-on boundary, resulting in Adair’s dismissal as he attempted another big hit. Soon after, Ottneil Baartman, overlooked in the Afghanistan series, bowled Paul Stirling with an angled delivery through the bat-pad gap. Despite these early breakthroughs, Ireland maintained momentum.
Campher, in his 100th international match, took a few balls to settle before driving Baartman for consecutive boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, Ireland had posted 63 for 2, their second-best against South Africa, following 67 for 2 in Bristol in 2022.
Peter’s timely breakthrough
In only his third T20I, Nqaba Peter was brought into the attack in the 11th over. Though Ireland’s Campher and Rock had settled in, Peter delivered a game-changing moment by bowling Rock with a delivery that straightened and ended a threatening 59-run partnership. This breakthrough restricted Ireland’s total.
Death-bowling heroics from Williams and Kruger
Ireland, at 163 for 5 after 18 overs, were aiming for a total above 180. However, South Africa’s death bowling, led by Williams and Patrick Kruger, restricted them to 171. Williams’ wide yorkers limited Ireland to singles in the 19th over. Kruger then dismissed Dockrell and Fionn Hand in consecutive deliveries, and his triple-wicket maiden sealed Ireland’s fate. South Africa conceded only eight runs in the final two overs.
Hendricks, Rickelton shine as South Africa’s batting redeems
Both Hendricks and Rickelton had questions about their form leading into the match. Hendricks had surpassed 30 only three times in his last 12 T20Is, while Rickelton’s previous best in eight white-ball internationals was 27. With Quinton de Kock absent, they proved to be the perfect opening pair. Rickelton set the tone with back-to-back boundaries, and Hendricks followed with four boundaries in six deliveries, crossing 2000 T20I runs in the process. By the end of the powerplay, South Africa was 58 for 0, with Rickelton bringing up his half-century in just 30 balls. South Africa reached 97 without loss at the halfway point, cruising towards victory.
