Ireland left in a spin as South Africa complete T20 series win

South Africa 159-7 (20 ovs) (D Miller 75no, W Mulder 36, Q de Kock 27; P Stirling 2-12, M Adair 2-33), Ireland 117 (19.3 ovs) (S Getkate 24, G Dockrell 20, P Stirling 19; T Shamsi 3-14, B Fortuin 3-16). South Africa won by 42 runs and win series 2-0

South Africa completed a T20 series victory over Ireland at Stormont on Thursday, easing to a 42 runs success as the hosts were bowled out for 117, that’s 15 less than they managed at Malahide in the first game on Monday.

Again it was the Proteas' spinners who weaved their magic, taking seven wickets in just 10 overs, leaving most of the Ireland batsmen bemused. Shane Getkate (24) was the one batsman who got past 20 and only George Dockrell, Paul Stirling, Mark Adair and Lorcan Tucker reached double figures. Kevin O'Brien was out for a second successive duck and has now scored just four runs in his last six innings.

Ireland's spinners also did a good job, Stirling and Simi Singh sharing three wickets in their seven overs, but after Tucker dropped David Miller off Josh Little on 19, the big-hitting left hander took full advantage to finish 75 not out, including four sixes in the final over – off Little.

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The final match of the series is back at Stormont on Saturday afternoon but when Ireland’s next action will be is now uncertain after Cricket Ireland announced on Thursday that the Zimbabwe tour, due to start on August 6th, has been delayed.

With Zimbabwe on the UK’s red list of Covid countries, the squad would have had to quarantine in London before flying into Belfast for three World Cup Super League games and five T20Is.

A revised schedule will be drawn up but it is likely the party will now fly into Dublin at a later date in August and at least some of the games will also be played there. All the games were due to be held at Stormont or Bready in Co Tyrone.