The Adair brothers star as Irish compare SA T20 series

ABU DHABI:

Ross Adair hit a century and then his brother Mark took four wickets as Ireland beat South Africa by 10 runs in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and drew their two-match T20 series.

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said captain Paul Stirling after Ireland’s first victory over South Africa in a T20. “(It) could have gone either way.”

After a stunning eight-wicket win in the first game, South Africa captain Aiden Markram opted to send the Irish to bat after winning the toss.

And Ireland's openers took control, with Ross Adair and Stirling sharing a 137-run partnership before Stirling was bowled out for 52 in the 13th over.

Ross Adair, who had several lives inflicted by dropped catches, kept going as wickets began to fall at the other end.

From the first ball of the 18th, he tried to turn the single that brought him his 100 into a two and was bowled out after hitting five fours and nine sixes.

Although Ireland's innings faltered slightly, the total of 195 for six wickets proved sufficient.

Wiaan Mulder was the most dangerous South African bowler with two wickets for 51 runs.

South Africa then got their innings off to a brisk start as Ryan Rickelton hit four sixes en route to a quick 36 before being denied by Graham Hume and Reeza Hendricks hit 51, including six fours and a six.

Even though captain Markram was bowled eight times by Matthew Humphreys, South Africa were close to the required run rate after 13 overs.

Then the younger Adair brother Mark went to work with the ball, bringing down the next four wickets, including the menacing Matthew Breetzke, who had hit 51.

None of the last seven South African batsmen reached double figures as they fell ten runs short, Mark Adair finishing with figures of 4-31 and Hume taking 3-25.