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The Second of two Women’s T20I between Ireland and South Africa will be played at Claremont Road tomorrow. The series now looks as if it will be a tight affair, after a thrilling finish in the first T20I at the same venue on Sunday.
The Second of two Women’s T20I between Ireland and South Africa will be played at Claremont Road tomorrow. The series now looks as if it will be a tight affair, after a thrilling finish in the first T20I at the same venue on Sunday.
South African captain Dinesha Devnarain managed to score the three runs that were needed from the final ball of the game, including an overthrow, which resulted in a heartbreaking loss for the Irish team.

Ireland batted well in their innings, making 140-4 from their 20 overs, their second-highest T20I score. Former Irish captain Isobel Joyce top scored for the ‘Girls in Green’ with 31* (24), having an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 61 (48), with vice-captain Kim Garth contributing 30* (26). Clare Shillington gave a solid start for Ireland. The opener made 30 (31) before being caught and bowled by Ayabonga Khaka. More of the same aggressive batting will be needed from the Irish middle order to get Ireland over the line tomorrow.

From the bowling perspective, Lucy O’Reilly took the early wicket of Trisha Chetty, while Kim Garth followed up her batting with figures of 2-30 from her four overs. Along with this, great work from Joyce and O’Reilly ran out the in form Mognon du Preez. If Ireland are to level the series with South Africa, fielding will be one of the critical areas the team can improve on from their performance in the 1st T20I.

For the visiting side, du Preez looks to be the key scalp that Ireland will want to take early on Wednesday. The former captain showed all of her experience to bring her team the win on Monday, by top scoring with 55(41). If Ireland can take her wicket early, they have a good chance of keeping the South Africans to a modest total.

The opening bowlers for the South Africa kept it tight in the 1st ODI, especially Moseline Daniels. She went for just 10 runs in her initial 3 over spell, and finished with 1-18 from her 4 overs, including two maidens. As well as this, Suné Luus bagged the wickets of Shauna Kavanagh and Jenny Gray in the 11th over, taking 2-24 from her allotted overs.

If the rest of the series can live up to the 1st T20I on Sunday, we are in for a thrilling period of games between these teams. The game is scheduled to start at 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday), with free entry for all.

The series will then move to four ODIs, the first game beginning on Friday in Merrion CC. There is also free entry for all of the games in the ODI series.

IRELAND WOMEN T20I Squad:

Laura Delany (Captain), (Dragons), Cath Dalton (Typhoons), Kim Garth (Scorchers), Jennifer Gray (Dragons), Isobel Joyce (Scorchers), Shauna Kavanagh (Dragons), Amy Kenealy (Typhoons), Gaby Lewis (Dragons), Louise McCarthy (Dragons), Ciara Metcalfe (Dragons), Lucy O’Reilly (Scorchers), Leah Paul (Typhoons), Clare Shillington (Typhoons), Mary Waldron (Dragons).

REMAINING FIXTURES:

Wednesday 3rd August, Ireland v South Africa, 2nd T20I at YMCA (4pm)
Friday 5th August, Ireland v South Africa, 1st ODI at Merrion (10.45am)
Sunday 7th August, Ireland v South Africa, 2nd ODI at YMCA (10.45am)
Tuesday 9th August, Ireland v South Africa, 3rd ODI at Malahide (10.45am)
Thursday 11th August, Ireland v South Africa, 4th ODI at The Hills (10.45am)

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