Be it in the ODIs or even the T20Is, Ireland have given South Africa a run for their money. Ireland’s win in the second ODI was superb but since then, things have gone downhill for Ireland. South Africa have shown their might and quality and have recorded commanding wins.
Those comfortable margins of victory won’t reflect on how well Ireland have fought. It may be in just one department, but Ireland have really stretched SA. In the two T20Is, the Irish were excellent with the ball. They put the opposition under pressure in both games but ended up leaking a few runs at the death.
Moreover, Ireland’s batting has just crumbled in both the games, and none of the batters even have 40 runs combined from the two games. It is the batting that has cost them both games. Totals of 160 were just about par, but Ireland just couldn’t get any momentum during their chase. Hence, the Men in Green will hope their batters can step up in this final game, and the bowlers can continue the good work.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s top-order hasn’t fired in both games. Skipper Temba Bavuma’s lack of form is a huge cause of concern, while the likes of Aiden Markram and Janneman Malan have been a touch inconsistent in T20Is. The middle-order came to the rescue in both games and helped them post a fighting total. Meanwhile, the bowling has been top-notch, and Tabraiz Shamsi, in particular, has spun a web around the Irish batters. South Africa have also rested quite a few of their top players and they are likely to continue as they’ve already wrapped up the series.
Key players
Paul Stirling has had a poor run in this ODI and T20I series against South Africa. The 30-year-old opening batsman could muster a mere 51 runs in three innings in the ODI series. And now, in the T20Is, he has scored just 29 runs in two games. Ireland rely quite a bit on Stirling to give them solid starts, and with that missing, they have struggled, especially in the T20Is. Hence, Stirling’s form will be crucial, and if the Green and Whites are to salvage some pride in the third T20I, he needs to make a significant contribution.
Joshua Little has been very impressive in white-ball cricket this year. He’s become a bankable bowler for Ireland, and he is constantly chipping in with wickets. The 21-year-old left-arm pacer has played seven ODIs and has returned with 13 wickets at an average of 17.76. He’s featured in a couple of T20Is (both in this series) and has taken three wickets. He was excellent in the Cricket Ireland Inter-Provisional T20 where he picked up 11 wickets from six games at an average of 11.27. Hence, Little will be a key bowler for Ireland in this third and final T20I.
Quinton de Kock is in top form with the bat. The South African wicket-keeper batsman smashed a fine 120 in the third ODI and has got a couple of good starts in the T20Is. However, he would’ve been disappointed as he couldn’t convert his starts in the T20Is. He has scores of 20 and 27 in the two games, and hence, de Kock will want to finish this series on a high. Moreover, he is a vital player at the top of the order for South Africa. They have had a wobble in both the games he was dismissed. Hence, he will be the one to watch out for.
Tabraiz Shamsi has been bowling beautifully and has been a consistent performer for South Africa in white-ball cricket. The chinaman spinner is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is in the world since the start of 2020. He has returned with 33 wickets from 23 games and averages 17.09 and has an economy rate of 6.33. Shamsi has picked up seven wickets in two games in this series and has constantly troubled the Ireland batters. Thus, he will be a crucial player for South Africa once again.
Prediction
This is the first T20I series ever between South Africa and Ireland. In fact, the first T20I of this series was the first time ever that these two sides squared off in a T20I match. In international cricket, before this tour, South Africa have played five ODIs against Ireland and had won all five.
However, Ireland struck back and recorded a historic win in the second ODI to register the first-ever international win against the Proteas.
But South Africa have been dominant since that loss. They won the third ODI in commanding fashion before winning the two T20Is comfortably.
They will be favourites to win the third T20I and clean sweep the series 3-0. Ireland have been good in patches, but they really need to up their game to gain a consolation win.
