By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Ireland beat South Africa for the first time in a T20I after posting their highest total against them and successfully defending it at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Ross Adair top-scored with the bat for Ireland with his maiden 100 in T20 cricket as his team made 195 from their 20 overs.
South Africa fell just short of the competitive total, ending on 185, with Ross’ brother Mark Adair claiming four wickets.
A three-match one-day international series between the two sides will start on Wednesday.
The young South African squad, and Ireland, are starting a new cycle leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
South Africa, who reached the T20 World Cup final in June, came into the matches against Ireland on the back of an ODI series defeat by Afghanistan in Sharjah.
South Africa comfortably won the first match at the same venue by eight-wickets chasing down Ireland’s 171-8 in just 17.4 overs with openers Rickelton (76) and Reeza Hendricks (51) adding 136 for the first wicket to all but secure the win and move to a 6-0 record against Ireland in all T20Is.
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Neil Rock (wkt), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Fionn Hand, Matthew Humphreys, Ben White, Graham Hume.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Nqaba Peter, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi.