BELFAST: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks starred as the the visiting side overpowered Ireland in their third and final Twenty20 International at Stormont on Saturday to seal a 3-0 sweep of the series.

The opening pair’s first-wicket partnership of 127 set up a 49-run victory after they played the first 10 overs cautiously.

Bavuma made 72 from 51 balls with six fours and two sixes in what was his maiden T20 International half century, while Hendricks — playing his first game of the Ireland trip — contributed 69 from 48 deliveries as he slammed seven boundaries plus there was one huge six over the long on. region.

David Miller, who was declared player-of-the-series, then chipped in with an unbeaten 36 off just 17 balls as South Africa posted 189-2 from their 20 overs.

The visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat, were without key players Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, who were among the five tourists rested for the match.

South Africa won the opening fixture in Dublin on Monday by 33 runs and sealed a 42-run victory in the second match three days later, also at Belfast.

Ireland responded poorly, losing openers Paul Stirling (18) and the out-of-form Kevin O’Brien (2) in the first five overs before skipper Andy Balbirnie tried to rescue the hosts.

But Balbirnie (27) was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner George Linde (2-21), while seamers Wiaan Mulder (2-10) and Lizaad Williams (2-30) also troubled Ireland as the hosts crumbled under pressure and finished on 140 for nine.

The One-day International honours were shared 1-1 earlier in the tour, but South Africa dominated the shorter format.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

T. Bavuma c Adair b McCarthy 72

R.R. Hendricks c Tucker b Simi Singh 69

D.A. Miller not out 36

H. Klaasen not out 7

EXTRAS (B-2, W-2, NB-1) 5

TOTAL (for two wkts, 20 overs) 189

FALL OF WKTS: 1-127, 2-159.

DID NOT BAT: A.K. Markram, G.F. Linde, P.W.A. Mulder, A.L. Phehlukwayo, B.C. Fortuin, B.E. Hendricks, L.B. Williams.

BOWLING: Simi Singh 4-0-27-1; Young 4-0-42-0 (1w); McCarthy 4-0-40-1; Adair 4-0-38-0 (1nb, 1w); White 3-0-27-0; Getkate 1-0-13-0.

IRELAND:

P.R. Stirling c B.E. Hendricks b Williams 18

K.J. O’Brien c sub b Linde 2

A. Balbirnie lbw b Linde 27

L.J. Tucker c Klaasen b Mulder 19

H.T. Tector c Markram b Mulder 5

S.C. Getkate c Klaasen b Phehlukwayo 11

Simi Singh run out 5

M.R. Adair run out 8

B.J. McCarthy not out 13

C.A. Young c Mulder b Williams 22

B.C. White not out 2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-3) 8

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 140

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-36, 3-69, 4-75, 5-78, 6-92, 7-94, 8-102 9-135.

BOWLING: Fortuin 4-0-25-0; Linde 4-0-21-2 (1w); B.E. Hendricks 4-0-34-0 (2w); Williams 4-0-30-2; Phehlukwayo 2-0-15-1; Mulder 2-0-10-2.

RESULT: South Africa won by 49 runs to win three-match series 3-0.

UMPIRES: A.J. Neill (Ireland) and M. Hawthorne (Ireland).

TV UMPIRE: R. Black (Ireland).

MATCH REFEREE: K. Gallagher (Ireland).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Temba Bavuma.

PLAYER-OF-THE-SERIES: David Miller.

FIRST MATCH: Dublin, South Africa won by 33 runs.

SECOND MATCH: Belfast, South Africa won by 42 runs.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2021

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