South Africa continued to fall short in high-pressure run-chases as they have done so in two out of their last three games and both were deciders, the T20 World Cup final and the now second T20I against Ireland as Paul Stirling and Co prevailed in a thriller in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, September 29. Needing 23 runs off the last 12 deliveries, South Africa messed up big time, losing five of the six wickets remaining in the last two balls to let Ireland beat them for the first time in T20Is out of seven matches, and level the two-match series 1-1.

It was a day that belonged to the Adair brothers, one smashed his maiden T20I ton with the bat and the other closed it out in the end with the ball taking three wickets in the penultimate over.