Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks starred with the bat to power South Africa to a commanding eight-wicket win over Ireland in the first T20I at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Rickelton and Hendricks shared a record-breaking 136-run opening partnership to set the stage for a clinical chase, as South Africa easily overhauled Ireland’s 171 for 8 with 14 balls to spare. Rickelton played a career-best knock,
scoring 76 runs, while Hendricks contributed 51, marking the highest T20I opening stand for South Africa on foreign soil. This dominant performance helped South Africa reach 174 for 2 in just 17.4 overs. Put in to bat first, Ireland made a promising start. Ross Adair took on South African pacer Lizaad Williams in the opening over, smashing two fours and a six before falling for 18.
Captain Paul Stirling was bowled by Ottneil Baartman shortly afterward, but Curtis Campher’s aggressive 49 kept the Irish in contention. Harry Tector joined in the action, hitting Williams for three consecutive boundaries, as Ireland raced to 63 for 2 by the end of the PowerPlay. As the Irish innings progressed, South Africa’s bowlers fought back. Patrick Kruger, in particular, wreaked havoc in the final stages, claiming four wickets for just 27 runs. His last-over heroics included three wickets, which helped restrict Ireland to a modest 171 for 8 after a threatening position of 153 for 4.Neil Rock (28) and Campher steadied the Irish middle order with a 59-run stand, but once Campher was dismissed, Kruger capitalized, wrapping up the innings with ease.
In response, South Africa’s openers wasted no time. Rickelton and Hendricks attacked from the outset, with Rickelton smashing two early boundaries and Hendricks following with three of his own off Mark Adair. By the end of the PowerPlay, South Africa was cruising at 58-0, and with the dew affecting Ireland’s bowling grip, the task only got easier for the Proteas. Rickelton brought up his first international fifty with a well-timed boundary,
and Hendricks soon followed suit, reaching his half-century before being trapped in front by Craig Young. Though both openers fell in quick succession after their fifties, Aiden Markram (19*) and Matthew Breetzke (13*) saw the game home comfortably, ensuring South Africa completed the chase with 2.2 overs to spare. The two teams will face off again on Sunday in the second and final T20I, before shifting focus to a three-match ODI series.
