It was a family affair in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night with the Adair brothers producing heroic performances with bat and ball to propel Ireland to a historic first T20 International victory over the Proteas.
Opener Ross Adair set up Ireland’s imposing 195-6 with a magnificent maiden T20I century, before younger brother Mark delivered a clinical spell with four wickets at the death to close out a thrilling 10-run win that helped the hosts share the series.
The South Africans were well set to hunt down the record total at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, requiring 38 runs off the final 25 deliveries, with seven wickets still remaining.
But Mark Adair (4-27) precipitated the collapse by having Tristan Stubbs caught behind, before a brilliant penultimate over that yielded the three big wickets of Wiaan Mulder (8), Matthew Breetzke (51 off 41 balls, 3x4, 2x6) and Nqaba Peter (4).
This left the Proteas requiring 18 runs off the final over, and although Patrick Kruger managed a boundary off Graham Hume’s second ball, the visitors sunk deeper into the quagmire, with Kruger and new batter Lizaad Williams falling off successive deliveries.
The run chase had started so promisingly, with Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks providing the early impetus with a 50-run opening partnership in just 5.2 overs.
Rickelton seemed to be continuing his form from Friday evening, when he had brought up his maiden international half-century.
On Sunday, he belted four sixes and a boundary in his short stay at the crease, but just when he seemed set to bite chunks out of Ireland’s target, the left-hander sliced a pull shot to deep midwicket off Hume to depart for 36 (off 22 balls, 1x4, 4x6).
Hendricks, though, stuck to his game plan despite his partner’s demise. With Ireland’s seam bowlers trying to limit run-scoring by bowling full and wide outside the off-stump, it played straight into his hands.
The stylish right-hander stayed still at the crease and carved a couple of boundaries behind the square to get his innings moving.
It eventually yielded a successive T20I half-century (51 off 32 balls, 6x4, 1x6), which was greeted with great applause from his teammates in the dugout after a previous lean period.
Proteas coach Rob Walter would be seething in the dugout, though, as he looked on in disbelief as his charges gifted Ireland a series leveller in the desert, especially as his team had offered Ross Adair a reprieve early on.
Ireland takes the win by 10 runs 🏏
Despite a relentless chase from the Proteas, Ireland emerged victorious in the second and final T20i, securing a win and drawing the series.
A hard-fought battle from both sides! 👏🏏🇿🇦#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvsIRE pic.twitter.com/qg6lHvyKql
The centurion should have been out on 19 when he top-edged a pull shot to square leg, but was offered a lifeline because Williams had over-stepped.
It was a costly error, as Adair immediately put young leg-spinner Peter under pressure with a powerful square cut that raced to the boundary, before following it up with a powerful strike over the long-on fence for six.
Adair had now found his rhythm and spared no Proteas bowler from his bludgeoning blade.
Medium-pacer Kruger was next to be dispatched for an almighty 97m six, before left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin suffered the fate of being struck for two sixes in the ninth over.
The first maximum also brought Adair’s half-century off just 32 balls. Opening partner Paul Stirling (52 off 31 balls) was striking the ball equally sweetly at the other end as the pair shared a 137-run stand in only 13 overs.
But the carnage had only begun, with Adair once again taking a liking to Peter’s leg-spinners with another couple of sixes before switching his attention to all-rounder Mulder.
The medium-pacer graciously assisted Adair in navigating through the “nervous 90s” with ease by offering a full toss above the waist that was sent into the stands to take him to 99.
HISTORY IN ABU DHABI! 🇦🇪
We've beaten South Africa for the first time in T20Is!!!#IREvSA #BackingGreen pic.twitter.com/i62XqeKpPe
Adair (100) then had the freedom of tucking away the free hit for a single to bring up a marvellous maiden T20I century off just 57 balls (5x4, 9x6).
It was then over to his younger brother Mark as Ireland could now celebrate a famous night in the UAE desert.
Brief Scores
Ireland 195/6 (Ross Adair 100, Paul Stirling 52; Wiaan Mulder 2/51, Lungi Ngidi 1/23)
South Africa 185/9 (Matthew Breetzke 51, Reeza Hendricks 51; Mark Adair 4/27, Graham Hume 3/25)
Ireland win by 10 runs, series tied 1-1