Rickelton and Hendricks Power South Africa to 8 Wickets Victory with Blistering Fifties Against Ireland

Key Performances and Match Analysis

South Africa 174 for 2 (Rickelton 76, Hendricks 51) beat Ireland 171 for 8 (Campher 49, Rock 37, Kruger 4-27) by 8 wickets.

Match Analysis

In order to maintain their perfect record against Ireland, South Africa won the inaugural Twenty20 International and achieved the most successful chase in Abu Dhabi.

Although it was technically an Irish home match, the Zayed Cricket Stadium hosted the match in order to overcome financial and infrastructural constraints in Ireland. Paradoxically, South Africa appeared to be better used to the circumstances.

South Africa had adjusted to the heat after playing Afghanistan on sluggish, dry grounds in Sharjah the previous week. Unlike Sharjah, where there was little bounce, Abu Dhabi featured good bounce and carry. While Ireland struggled with dew and wetness in the field, South Africa realized that full, slower balls were the best options for taking wickets.

Even though Ireland recorded their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, they were unable to hold the lead due to South Africa’s strikes during the powerplay and towards the end of Ireland’s innings. Almost every acceleration saw Ireland pinned back, but the innings was steadied by a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 runs off 41 balls between Neil Rock and Curtis Campher.

In response, Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton achieved significant personal milestones while sharing the third-best opening stand in T20Is for South Africa and the highest away from home. In 15 T20I innings, Hendricks made his first fifty, and Rickelton hit his first international half-century with a career-best 76.

With Rickelton striking strong and high over the leg side and Hendricks executing the sophisticated off-side strokes for which he is renowned, they made a great combination. South Africa reached the finish line with 14 balls remaining, but neither team made it.

After Lorcan Tucker was hurt during practise, Ross Adair—who wasn’t expected to play in this match—made the initial declaration of purpose by hitting the first boundary of the innings off a short ball from Lizaad Williams over mid-on. After missing the ODIs against Afghanistan, he proceeded to take another 10 runs off Williams’ opening over of the tour and blasted Wiaan Mulder over his head for four before South Africa responded.

Aiden Markram put Tristan Stubbs on the long-on boundary with Ross Adair’s strength down the field, and he was in a terrific position to collect the catch that got rid of the batter who had attempted one too many big shots. Next, it was the turn of Ottneil Baartman, another underappreciated performer from the Afghanistan matches, who got Paul Stirling with a delivery that tilted in and went through the bat-pad gap with his third ball. South Africa, however, was unable to grab the early advantage.

In his 100th international match for Ireland, Campher needed five balls to get his eye in before hitting Baartman past mid-off and two more fours to start accumulating runs. After scoring 67 for 2 in Bristol in 2022, Ireland’s powerplay total of 63 for 2 was their second-best against South Africa.

Legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter was called on in his third Twenty20 international match, and it was a difficult introduction as he had to wait till the eleventh over. After dropping Campher on 17 at the end of the ninth over and misfiring to allow four at the end of the tenth, South Africa were spooked. Campher and Neil Rock had made their peace.

After hitting Peter for four in an eight-run over, Bjorn Fortuin took his place and was permitted to switch ends. Then he made a hit. As Rock attempted to sweep, Peter bowled him with a delivery that straightened, ending a partnership that threatened to take the game away. That wicket would turn out to be critical in terms of the goal Ireland ultimately set for South Africa.