South Africa vs Ireland

Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell gave Ireland hope with 86-run stand but couldn't prevent seventh consecutive T20I defeat.

Tucker was Ireland's best hope of scoring the 64 runs they needed in the last five overs and identified Shamsi as the bowler to target. Tucker was Ireland's best hope of scoring the 64 runs they needed in the last five overs and identified Shamsi as the bowler to target. Captain Andy Balbirnie set the tone with a four in each of the first three overs before he top-edged Wayne Parnell to Pretorius at mid-on. Captain Andy Balbirnie set the tone with a four in each of the first three overs before he top-edged Wayne Parnell to Pretorius at mid-on. Markram went on to score his third successive T20I fifty, with a chance to join Hendricks in elite company if he manages as many in the next match. He immediately scored a fifty in that match as well as this one. He immediately scored a fifty in that match as well as this one. He topped up on his three against England with an easy-as-you-like-it 74 on Wednesday. Hendricks looked in control from the moment he lofted Josh Little over the covers for six, with what seemed minimal effort. He had a busy but unremarkable start against Ireland too, with ones or twos scored mostly on the leg side. He had a busy but unremarkable start against Ireland too, with ones or twos scored mostly on the leg side. Gareth Delany removed the pair in successive deliveries, and Ireland had the chance to pull South Africa back. Harry Tector sensed an opportunity for an intervention, ran in from mid-off, and his direct hit found the stumps at the non-striker's end, with de Kock short of his crease.

Andy Balbirnie | Ireland skipper: No I don't think so, in T20s currently, [on 211 being too much] the pitches are pretty good, thought we were in it for ...

18.4 Ngidi to Andy McBrine, SIX, dropped in the crowd at deep square leg. 19.6 Parnell to McCarthy, SIX, the last ball is a six but won't matter as South Africa win by 21. 18.6 Ngidi to McCarthy, out Andy McBrine Run Out!! 1 run completed. Dockrell went next ball and the finishing touches were applied by Ngidi and Parnell who bowled 5 dots in a row in the last over. Tucker and Dockrell did well, but the bowlers stuck to their plans and came up trumps. So South Africa go 1-0 up and they would be looking to notch up another series win when they play the last T20I on Friday. We will be there to bring you all the action from that one.

Ireland need to do better in both the batting and bowling department. Their bowlers leaked runs against New Zealand, while their batters could rarely cross ...

The visitors will be keen to maintain this momentum in the 2-match T20I series against Ireland. Ireland need to do better in both the batting and bowling department. Skipper Balbirnie will have to lead from the front and get back to form soon.

Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram fifties helped propel the Proteas to 211 for five – a record score against the Irish beating the 189 for two they posted ...

Stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj (2/29) claimed two of the wickets in that period added to a double for Wayne Parnell (2/36). Their performances helped propel the Proteas to 211 for five – a record score against the Irish beating the 189 for two they posted in Belfast last year. They made full use of the short boundaries – the former bagging his 11th T20I 50 and the latter his eighth – before falling to successive Gareth Delany (2/31) deliveries.