A brilliant century from Ross Adair (100 runs off 58 balls), secures a historic win for Ireland against South Africa, in a thrilling finale to the 1201 series, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Both brothers Ross Adair and Mark Adair, delivered stellar performances to propel Ireland to a memorable 10-run victory over South Africa. This outstanding win has secured the series 2-0 for the Irish side, with Ross Adair’s century and Mark Adair’s devastating spell of fast bowling being the key highlights.
South Africa Won The Toss
As South Africa won the toss, they opted to bowl first, hoping to chase down a manageable target. But, their strategy quickly unravelled. This is because Ireland’s opening duo of Ross Adair and captain Paul Stirling took charge with a blistering 137-run stand. Known for his aggressive approach, Stirling wasted no time, smashing 52 runs off just 31 balls. He laid the foundation for Ireland’s big total, with his innings featuring seven boundaries and one towering six.
On the other hand, Ross Adair was in sublime form. Crafting an authoritative 100 off 58 balls, the Irish opener played the innings of his life. His knock included five boundaries and a remarkable nine sixes, sending the South African bowlers into disarray. Also, his skill to dominate the crease, and unleashing power shots when needed, was a masterclass in modern T20 batting.
Ross and Stirling’s partnership ended when Stirling was dismissed by South Africa’s Patrick Kruger in the 13th over, but Adair continued to anchor the innings. Eventually, Wiaan Mulder, claimed Adair’s prized wicket in the 17th over, but by then, Ireland had already set their sights on a massive total.
South Africa’s Bowling Struggles
Even though Mulder picked up 2 wickets for 51 runs in his 4 overs, South Africa’s bowlers struggled to contain the Irish onslaught. Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, and Patrick Kruger also chipped in with a wicket apiece, but they were largely ineffective against the aggressive batting on display. Till the end of Ireland’s innings, Fionn Hand (4* from 5 balls) and George Dockrell (20* from 13 balls) added quick runs to push the Irish total to 195/6 after 20 overs.
A Story Of Missed Opportunities For South Africa
Definitely, with openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks forging a 50-run partnership, South Africa got off to a promising start. Even though aggressive Rickelton, scored 36 off 22 balls, , including a flurry of four sixes, his stay at the crease was cut short by Graham Hume, who struck in the 6th over to put the Irish back in control.
On the other hand, undeterred Hendricks continued his fine form and notched up 51 off 32 balls, hitting six boundaries and a six along the way. Even though they both kept South Africa’s hopes alive, as the required run rate climbed, Ireland’s bowlers tightened their grip on the match.
The Turning Point Of The Match
Mark Adair, Ross’s brother, brought a turning point in the match when he took center stage with the ball. With his brilliant four-over spell, he dismantled the Proteas’ middle order, taking 4 wickets for just 31 runs. The pace and precision of Adair, combined with his ability to strike in crucial moments, were instrumental in halting South Africa’s momentum. Equally impressive, Hume, claimed three wickets while conceding only 25 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 6.20.
The pressure built up on the Proteas, when wickets continued to tumble. Despite outstanding efforts from Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin, who remained unbeaten, South Africa fell short, managing only 185/9 in their 20 overs. This left them 10 runs adrift of the target.
Ross Adair: Player of the Match and Series
With his match-winning century and consistent performances throughout the series, Ross Adair definitely deserved both ‘Player of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Series’. His Excellent contributions with the bat were pivotal in Ireland’s series triumph. Also, not to forget his brother Mark’s heroics with the ball assured that Ireland clinched a popular victory against one of the top cricketing nations.
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