Ireland has created history. It has defeated South Africa in the second T20 International played in Abu Dhabi. This is the first time that Ireland has won over South Africa in a T20 International. With this, the series of 2 T20s ended in a 1-1 draw. South Africa, which won the first T20 match by 8 wickets, was defeated by Ireland by 10 runs in the second T20. The role of the two brothers playing for Ireland was decisive in this victory. The elder brother, who came to cricket after playing rugby, first attacked with the bat and scored a century. Then the younger brother spoiled South Africa's run chase with the ball.
In the second and last T20 of the series, South Africa won the toss and sent Ireland to bat first. Ireland grabbed this opportunity with both hands. Ross Adair and Paul Stirling added 137 runs for the opening wicket. This partnership broke with the wicket of Stirling who was out after scoring 52 runs.
Paul Stirling was out but Ross Adair was still standing on the wicket and was playing his shots freely. 30-year-old Ross Adair started his sports career with rugby. He used to play rugby earlier. But, he suffered some injury due to which he had to leave that game and turn to cricket.
30-year-old Ross Adair displayed his aggressive batting and scored a century against South Africa. Batting at a strike rate of 172.41, he scored 100 runs in 58 balls, which included 9 sixes and 5 fours. This was the first century of Ross Adair's T20I career, based on which Ireland scored 195 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs.
South Africa had a target of 196 runs, chasing which South Africa made half-century partnerships for the first two wickets but after that Ireland bowler Mark Adair wreaked havoc with the ball. Mark spoiled South Africa's run chase. The result was that he not only became the most successful bowler of his team but also proved to be the one who stopped South Africa from reaching the target of victory.
South Africa's team could only score 185 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs and lost the second T20 match by 10 runs. Out of the 9 wickets that fell for South Africa, 4 were taken by Mark Adair, who took them by giving away 31 runs in 4 overs.
South Africa has defeated Ireland for the first time in T20 International. With this, it has also become the team that has defeated the most number of 28 opposing teams in T20.
The Adair brothers played an important role in Ireland's victory over South Africa. Ross Adair and Mark Adair are both brothers. Ross is the elder one while Mark is the younger one. Ross Adair was selected as the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series. Mark Adair was selected as the Bowler of the Series.
