IRE vs SA: Ireland created history in T20 International cricket by defeating South Africa for the first time

The Ireland cricket team has created history as they win their first T20 International match against South Africa at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. This has leveled the two-match series 1-1. The Adair brothers have played an important role in this victory for Ireland. Based on the performance of Ross and Mark Adair, Ireland defeated the Proteas by 10 runs. This becomes Ireland's first T20 win against South Africa and their second win in international cricket.

First to bat in the second and last game of this two-match series, Ireland also scored their highest T20 cricket score against South Africa. The Protégés came into bat to bat after South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first as Ireland scored 195 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. In this innings, Ross Adair was the hero of Ireland's victory, who scored his first T20 century with the help of 9 sixes in just 57 balls.

Meanwhile, skipper Paul Stirling too played a crucial innings of 52 runs in 31 balls and did an opening partnership of 137 runs with him. However, in the last overs, Ireland lost 6 wickets for just 43 runs but gave South Africa a tough target of 196 runs. In response, South Africa had a good opening as Reeza Hendricks got his second consecutive half century, inserting 51 runs, as Matthew Breetzke also scored 51 runs. Opener Ryan Rickelton played the aggressive innings of 36 runs in 22 balls but later South Africa went behind in terms of run rate.

Mark Adair's 19th over changed the complexion of the match. He had taken the wickets of Wiaan Mulder and Breetzke on two consecutive balls and then later on took the wicket of Ann Peter too. Adair bowled fantastically and was a great contributor towards his team by taking four wickets for 31 runs. Graham Hume too bowled tight in the last over, giving away just 7 runs and taking along a wicket. He took 3 wickets for 25 runs in four overs.

With this, South Africa's innings folded for 185-9 in 20 overs. It was an important victory for Irish cricket as it became the first team in the last 8 T20 matches at this cricket stadium to win while batting first. Apart from this, this was only their second international win against South Africa; the first victory came in an ODI. After the T20 series being tied, now both the teams will focus on the three-match ODI series which will start in Abu Dhabi from Wednesday.