South Africa beat Ireland in third T20I: Records broken
South Africa thrashed Ireland in the third and final T20I to complete a 3-0 series win. The Proteas posted 189/2 as skipper Temba Bavuma hit a sparkling 51-ball 72. Reeza Hendricks and David Miller chipped in as well for the visitors. In reply, Ireland lost wickets at regular intervals to surrender the tie (140/9). Here are the details.
How did the match pan out?
South Africa posted 127 runs for the first wicket as Bavuma and Hendricks took charge. The two batters played sensibly and laid the platform for SA. Bavuma hit six fours and two sixes. Hendricks hit seven fours and a six. David Miller came in and powered SA to 189. In reply, the South African bowlers had things under control to hurt Ireland.
Miller becomes the second-highest scorer for SA in T20Is
After scoring a powerful half-century in the previous T20I, senior batter Miller showed his class once again. The southpaw smashed a 17-ball 36, hitting four fours and a six. He had a strike rate of 211.6. Notably, Miller is now the second-highest run-scorer for SA in T20Is (1,675). He surpassed the legendary AB de Villiers (1,672).
SA smash 126 in the final 10 overs
Ireland bowled well in the first 10 overs and tied the SA batters by not allowing them many freebies. After 10 overs, SA had managed just 63 runs at a rate of 6.30. However, they changed the game, hitting 126 in the final 10 overs.
Miller surpasses 1,700 runs; Hendricks and Bavuma shine
Overall, Miller has surpassed the 1,700-run mark in T20Is (also for World XI). He has amassed 1,716 runs as 31.77. Miller has surpassed the tally of Umar Akmal (1,690). Reeza Hendricks smashed his sixth T20I fifty. He now has 881 runs at 26.99. Bavuma hit his maiden T20I fifty. The SA skipper also got past 400 T20I runs (410).