South Africa VS Ireland Men: SA Men Won By 174 Runs 2nd ODI Player Of Match. In an impressive display of batting and bowling, South Africa’s men’s cricket team secured a dominant victory over Ireland, winning by 174 runs in the 2nd One-Day International (ODI) match held in Abu Dhabi. This win ensured that South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. A key highlight of the game was the outstanding performance of Tristan Stubbs, who scored his maiden ODI century. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the 2nd ODI match between South Africa and Ireland, focusing on the pivotal moments that led to South Africa’s win and how Stubbs became the Player of the Match with his explosive batting.
Tristan Stubbs Maiden ODI Century
Tristan Stubbs, at just 24 years old, showcased his potential as a key player for South Africa in limited-overs cricket. His maiden century, scored off just 81 balls, proved to be a turning point in the match. Stubbs’ century not only gave South Africa the upper hand but also positioned him as the Player of the Match. His innings, characterized by eight boundaries and three massive sixes, saw him playing with both aggression and finesse, which left the Irish bowlers struggling for answers.
Stubbs came into bat after South Africa was already in a comfortable position, with the team having lost two wickets for 136 runs by the 24th over. Although the captain Temba Bavuma had retired hurt earlier due to an elbow injury, Stubbs took the responsibility of accelerating the innings. His ability to rotate the strike, combined with powerful hits over the boundary, helped South Africa amass a total of 343/4 in their allotted 50 overs. His unbeaten 112 from 81 deliveries gave South Africa the platform they needed to dominate the match.
South Africa Solid Batting Performance
The foundation for South Africa’s large total was laid by the top-order batsmen, who all made significant contributions. Ryan Rickelton, continuing his form from the first ODI where he scored 91 runs, got the innings off to a solid start with a well-compiled 40 from 39 balls. Rickelton’s knock included some exquisite strokes, particularly over the midwicket and long-off regions.
Temba Bavuma, who was looking sharp in the early stages, was unfortunate to suffer an injury after scoring 35 runs off 39 balls. His injury came as he dived to complete a run and injured his elbow. While his absence from the crease was a setback for South Africa, Kyle Verreynne and Rassie van der Dussen took charge to stabilize the innings.
Verreynne, drafted into the team after Tony de Zorzi’s injury, played a key role in the middle order. His well-paced 67 off 64 balls included several well-timed boundaries, and his partnership with Stubbs proved vital in increasing the run rate. Together, they stitched a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.
As the innings progressed, Wiaan Mulder joined Stubbs after Verreynne’s departure. Mulder, known for his aggressive style of batting, hit a quickfire 43 off 34 balls. His innings, combined with Stubbs’ fireworks, pushed South Africa to an imposing total of 343/4.
This was only the third time in men’s ODIs that all the top six batsmen from a team had scored more than 35 runs each, reflecting South Africa’s all-round batting depth.
Ireland Struggles with the Ball
The Irish bowling attack, despite employing seven bowlers, could not make significant inroads into the South African batting lineup. Gavin Hoey, Mark Adair, and Curtis Campher were among the key bowlers for Ireland, but they struggled to contain the free-flowing stroke play from the South African batsmen. Campher managed to take the key wicket of Rassie van der Dussen, but Ireland failed to maintain consistent pressure on the South Africans.
The turning point of the South African innings came in the final ten overs, where Stubbs and Mulder unleashed a flurry of boundaries. Stubbs, in particular, targeted the Irish seamers, dispatching them for big sixes over midwicket. His ability to find gaps in the field and rotate the strike made it difficult for the Irish bowlers to build any sort of momentum.
Graham Hume and Craig Young bowled the last few overs, but by then, South Africa had already set a mammoth target, leaving Ireland a daunting task in their chase.
Ireland Batting Struggles Against South Africa Bowling Attack
Chasing 343 for victory, Ireland’s hopes of pulling off an upset were dashed early in their innings. South African fast bowler Lizaad Williams, fresh off a four-wicket haul in the first ODI, once again delivered an exceptional performance. Williams picked up three wickets within the first 10 overs, leaving Ireland’s batting lineup in tatters. Williams dismissed Andy Balbirnie for 1 and followed it up by trapping Curtis Campher lbw for a golden duck.
The Irish batting never truly recovered after losing their top-order batsmen. Paul Stirling, a key player for Ireland, could only manage five runs before being bowled by Lungi Ngidi. With Harry Tector, Ireland’s in-form batsman, falling for 20, Ireland found themselves at 50/5 within the first nine overs.
The middle-order batsmen, including George Dockrell and Andy McBrine, failed to offer significant resistance. Both players fell to South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack. Andile Phehlukwayo and Ottniel Baartman kept the pressure on Ireland with accurate line and length bowling, further reducing the chances of a successful chase.
Hume and Young Resistance
Despite Ireland’s top and middle-order collapse, the last-wicket partnership between Graham Hume and Craig Young provided some entertainment and delayed South Africa’s victory. Their 52-run stand for the 10th wicket was the third-highest 10th-wicket partnership in Ireland’s ODI history.
Craig Young remained unbeaten on 29, while Graham Hume contributed 21 runs before the partnership was eventually broken. Hume hit two sixes during his brief stay, while Young managed to strike three fours and a six, giving Ireland a glimmer of hope. However, South Africa’s spinner Bjorn Fortuin wrapped up the innings by dismissing Hume, and Ireland were bowled out for 169 runs in 30.3 overs.
South Africa Bowling Attack Dominates
South Africa’s bowling unit played a crucial role in securing the victory. Lizaad Williams, who had claimed a career-best 4-32 in the first ODI, was the star of the show once again, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs. Williams’ ability to swing the new ball and extract bounce from the Abu Dhabi pitch made it difficult for the Irish batsmen to settle.
Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin also chipped in with two wickets each. Ngidi’s pace and accuracy troubled the Irish top-order, while Fortuin’s spin bowling tied down the Irish middle and lower order. Fortuin’s wickets of Gavin Hoey and Graham Hume ensured that Ireland never got close to the target.
Conclusion
The second ODI between South Africa and Ireland was a one-sided affair, with South Africa dominating both the batting and bowling departments. Tristan Stubbs’ century, backed by solid contributions from Verreynne, Mulder, and Rickelton, gave South Africa a massive total to defend. The South African bowlers, led by Lizaad Williams, then delivered a clinical performance to dismiss Ireland for 169, securing a 174-run victory.
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