South Africa bounce back emphatically to level T20 series

There was always likely to be a response. Just three days after a lacklustre South Africa lost the opening T20 against Ireland, they put in a much-improved performance to coast home to a series-levelling eight wicket win at Sydney Parade.

After Friday night’s heroics, Ireland were more subdued on this occasion. Following skipper Gaby Lewis winning the toss and electing to bat, a first innings total of 106/7 was always going to be on the low side.

South Africa opted to give their XI another go rather than ringing the changes, giving Nonkululeko Mlaba the first over once again with her left-arm spin. Her initial over went for nine as Lewis took the challenge to her over mid off early doors, but that was not a portent of things to come as the Irish batters struggled to find regular boundaries, while South Africa bowled tighter lines, not offering as much width and forcing Ireland to hit down the ground.

In response with the bat, Lara Goodall epitomised South Africa’s fortune reversal. She was dismissed first ball of the innings in the last game, but on this occasion played the anchor innings, falling just short of seeing her side home when departing to a Jane Maguire slower ball in the 14th over, but her innings of 52 off 40 balls had done the match-winning damage by then.

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From the Irish point of view, the one negative to Friday’s win was the middle-order drop off with the bat. There was a feeling that if openers Leah Paul and Lewis especially failed to fire then building a competitive total might be tricky.

To say Lewis didn’t fire on Monday night would be harsh. 31 off 29 ball including four boundaries - the highlight a strong shot off a Nadine de Klerk full-toss that flew high over the mid wicket boundary - was a good follow-up to her half-century in the previous game, but when she departed just short of the ninth over that left Ireland’s middle order 11 overs to force the issue with the score on 49.

“Gaby was very good again today,” said Ireland head coach Ed Joyce after the game. “I know she got caught at long off but I think that was a symptom of trying to push the game along when someone else should have been doing that potentially.

“She looked really good and really calm and got a good 30 odd. If we can get a bit more from the other end in terms of boundaries that will give her license to bat longer.”

In the final 10 overs, a third of Ireland’s deliveries faced were dot balls, while the boundary was found just three times. South Africa deserve credit for their improved performance, but for much of the innings they were able to keep their mid off and mid on fielders up inside the circle. Rachael Delaney cashed in on that for a boundary down the ground late in the innings but departed a ball later, miscuing to mid-wicket when trying to repeat the trick.

“It’s clear that we weren’t brave enough in the way we batted,” explained Joyce. “Mid off, mid on were up inside the circle and we have talked about how we can do that (take them on) better in the next game. If we do that and execute then we can get another 20/30 runs.

“It’s bravery to do it (take risks) in a game where there’s a decent crowd here against a pretty good team. We’ve practised it a good amount and some of the girls showed that they could do it the other day but it’s definitely one thing practising it and another putting it into practise in a game. It’s about allowing the players to do that, it’s not that easy so you’re going to have to put up with a few people getting out but it has to happen to get from a score of 105 to 130, 140 or higher. You’re talking about eight to 10 boundaries, you’re not talking about more singles.

“I think there’s enough in this team actually to go and do those things, it doesn’t need anyone else necessarily coming back in to offer that. Rachael’s (Delaney) come in a few times at the end with great intent, Arlene (Kelly) was great in the first game in looking to score, but I also think there’s a little bit of fear there and we’re trying to take away that fear.”

In contrast, South Africa showed a willingness to get on the front foot and punish Ireland whenever they overpitched. Goodall and Tazmin Brits both found the boundary regularly in the opening overs, taking the score to 29/1 in the third before Arlene Kelly dragged her length back nicely to catch Brits on the crease and rattle her stumps.

From there Goodall found an able partner in Anneke Bosch. The fact she was able to score at below a run a ball with an unbeaten 32 off 37 displayed a lack of scoreboard pressure as she was comfortable in not taking many risks. Ireland’s ploy of utilising multiple spinners needs the pressure of the required run-rate constantly climbing, something that was missing given the first innings total and South Africa’s strong start.

Plenty of learnings then for this Irish side as they come down from Friday’s euphoria. They are still in a position to win the series with the decider on Wednesday afternoon, a position they likely would have taken at the start of the week.