Ireland captain Paul Stirling is "over the moon" after securing their first-ever T20I victory over South Africa, beating them by 10 runs. (More Cricket News)
Brilliant performances from brothers Ross and Mark Adair set them ဣon course to the win, as they drew the two-match series 1-1.
Ross Adair s🤡cored his maiden international century, 🅷combining with Stirling for a superb opening partnership of 137, leading the team to 195-6, their highest T20I score against South Africa.
Mark Adair then followed 💯up that performance with an impressive stand in the field, finishing with 4-31, before Graham Hume's 3-25 rounded off the triumph.
And Stirling was thrilled with how Ireland performed☂ on both sides, particu💯larly in the field.
"At halfway♚, we wanted an extra 15-20 runs,༒" he said.
"They squeezed us, and we f✤elt under-p💎ar. There was less dew [on Sunday] and we managed to get over the line.
"You need time 🎐at the crease to get the pace o♑f the wicket. That is what won us the game.
"With new batters coming in, you always have♎ a chance. We are absolutely delighted [with the win]. It could have gone either way. Over the moon [with the result] and hopefully we can bring it into the ODIs."
South Africa started brightly,ꦆ𒈔 with both Reeze Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke getting 51 after Ryan Rickelton's opening 36.
However, they soon collapsed ꧂after that, with none of the other eight batters able to reach double figures as they finished on 185-9.
Captain A🍸iden Markram admitted that fine margins cost them on Sunday, but he still found positives to take from the series.
"We thoug🍸ht it was chaseable for sure," he said. "Smal𝐆l moments in the game.
"It comes down to execution and if you can win those moments. When you lose wickets regularly…you wꦇant a 20-30-run partnership. T🌜hey made it tough for us.
"Each guy will ha❀ve a certain area to improve. We never really stop l💧earning. Ultimately, making better decisions and winning games for South Africa."
ဣThওe two sides now turn their attention to the three-match ODI series, which starts on Wednesday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
