Tabraiz Shamsi returned 4-27 to help South Africa register a comfortable 33–run win over Ireland in the first of the three-match T20I series in Malahide. Chasing 166, Ireland looked too nervous against a formidable South African bowling line-up led by Shamsi before they finished on 132/9.
Andy Balbirnie won the toss and opted to bowl. The decision did not go in favour of them as Quinton de Kock (20 runs off 9 balls) and Temba Bavuma got South Africa off to a blistering start, smashing 31 runs off the first 14 balls. But Mark Adair (3-39) had the last laugh in the third over when he dismissed de Kock with a slow cutter.
Coming to bat at the new No. 3 role, Janneman Malan could not carry his ODI momentum forward. He became Adair’s second victim in the next over. Bavuma (13), too, returned to the pavilion inside Powerplay. South Africa were down to 44/3 at this point.
Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen then steadied the ship, adding 35 for the fourth wicket. But just when van der Dussen broke the shackles with 4, 6, 1, 4, Joshua Little gave Ireland the much-needed breakthrough in the 11th over.
Four overs after, Simi Singh (2-19) removed the well-set Markram (39) with a classic leg-break. Markram failed to read it completely after stepping out from the crease, and Lorcan Tucker dislodged the bails in no hurry. Still, breezy cameos from David Miller (28) and Kagiso Rabada (19* off 9) helped South Africa to post a challenging 165/7.
The chase was never on the cards for Ireland, especially after losing both Paul Stirling (6) and Kevin O’Brien in the opening two overs. Barring Andrew Balbirnie (22), Harry Tector (34), no Irish batter showed composure. Shamsi, George Linde (2-26) and Lungi Ngidi (3-0-10-2) ran through them as Ireland slumped to 88/9.
In the end, an unbeaten 44-run last-wicket stand between Barry McCarthy (30*) and Little (15*) came to the rescue as Ireland batted out all 20 overs.
Brief Scores: South Africa 165/7 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 39; Mark Adair 3-39) beat Ireland 132/9 (Harry Tector 34; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-27) by 33 runs. Player of the Match: Tabraiz Shamsi.