Ireland finally managed to get things right with the bat in the third and final ODI against South Africa at the Zayed Cricket Stadium as openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie put up a century stand before Harry Tector smashed a rapid half-century towards the death. The Proteas spearhead Lungi Ngidi suffered in particular, conceding 70 runs in his nine overs without any success, but the side managed to script a mini-comeback late in the game to restrict the Irish to under 300, with Lizaad Williams the headline act as three of his four wickets came in the final over of his quota.
The in-form right-arm quick was handed the Kookaburra for the penultimate over with Mark Adair on strike. The Irishman tried to innovate with a scoop behind the wicket as he moved across the stumps but was undone by Lizaad’s unnerving accuracy as the white rock pitched on a full length and smashed into the middle-stump, fracturing it into two separate pieces. However, the pacer remained stoic despite the spectacular scenes, and followed up the effort with a yorker down leg to dispatch debutant Fionn Hand for a golden duck. Even though the hattrick never came, Lizaad ensured he added a third wicket in the over with another scintillating yorker on the last ball that sneaked under Graham Hume’s bat and sent the bails flying.
Twitter was ecstatic at the exhibition of fast bowling on display in sweltering conditions as they showered praise on the promise shown by Lizaad Williams.
What a ball!
BBB
CCC
EEEE
FFF
HHH
IIII
