Ross Adair’s Historic Century Powers Ireland to First T20I Win Over South Africa
Ireland made cricketing history on September 29, 2024, with their first-ever T20 International win against South Africa, and it was all thanks to an exceptional performance from Ross Adair. The match, held in Abu Dhabi, saw Ireland secure a thrilling victory in the second game of the series, leveling it 1-1. The Irish opener, Ross Adair, led the charge with a blistering century, hammering 100 runs off just 58 balls. His innings was the cornerstone of Ireland's total of 195, a target that proved too much for South Africa.
Adair's performance was not a solo effort, though. Captain Paul Stirling played a key supporting role, smashing 52 off just 31 balls, while George Dockrell added a quick-fire 20 from 13 deliveries. On the bowling front for South Africa, Wiaan Mulder managed to pick up two wickets, but he was expensive, conceding 51 runs in his four overs. Despite Mulder’s efforts, the South African bowling unit struggled to contain the Irish batting line-up.
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In their chase of 196, South Africa got off to a solid start with Reeza Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke both contributing 51 runs each. Ryan Rickleton chipped in with a brisk 36 off 22 balls, but it wasn’t enough to get South Africa over the line. Ireland's bowlers, particularly Mark Adair and Graham Hume, stepped up to defend the total. Mark Adair, who took 4 wickets for just 31 runs, played a crucial role, while Hume’s 3/25 added to South Africa’s woes as they fell short at 185 all out.
This win marked a major milestone for Irish cricket, with Ross Adair joining an elite list of Irish batters to score a century in T20 internationals. He now stands alongside Kevin O'Brien, who scored 124 against Hong Kong in 2019, and Paul Stirling, who hit an unbeaten 115 against Zimbabwe in 2021.
As Ireland celebrated this historic win, the attention now shifts to the upcoming three-match ODI series, which kicks off on October 2. The thrilling T20 series ended in a 1-1 draw, but Ireland will carry significant momentum into the ODI leg of the tour, eager to continue their impressive performances against the Proteas.
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