Shamsi, Fortuin devastated Ireland, South Africa take an unassailable 2-0 lead

Brilliant bowling from left-arm spinners Tabrez Shamsi (3/14) and Bjorn Fortuyn (3/16) and middle-order batsman David Miller (75) helped South Africa beat Ireland in the second T20I here on Thursday. Not only did they take an unassailable 2-0 lead by 42 runs, but also won the three-match series.

After winning the toss, South African team made a challenging score of 159 runs in the allotted 20 overs, batting first. In reply, Ireland were all out for 117 runs in 19.3 overs. Shamsi, Fortuyn and Miller were the heroes of South Africa’s victory. While in batting, Miller broke the sweat of Ireland’s bowlers, while in the bowling, Shamsi and Fortuin made Ireland’s batsmen all four. Miller played a stormy innings of 75 runs in 44 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes, due to which South Africa reached the score of 159. Apart from them, Vian Mulder and Chandon de Kock scored 36 off 26 balls and 27 runs in 20 balls respectively.

After this, Shamsi and Fortuyn broke the back of Ireland’s batting in the bowling. Shamsi took three for 14 in four overs, while Fortuin took three for 16 in four overs. Apart from them, Beuran Hendrix took two wickets and Lungi Ngidi and Aidan Markram took one wicket each.

Ireland’s batting looked bleak. According to the target, none of the batting could play an innings. Shane Getkett scored the highest 24 runs in 18 balls with the help of one four and two sixes. Apart from him, George Dockrell scored 20 and Paul Stirling scored 19. In the bowling, Paul Stirling and Mark Adair took two wickets each, while Craig Young, Joshua Little and Simi Singh got one wicket each.
David Miller received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for scoring an explosive 75 off 44 balls. Now the third and last T20 match will be played between the two teams in Belfast itself tomorrow.