Twitter Reactions: Andrew Balbirnie’s brilliance gives Ireland maiden ODI win over South Africa

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma accepted that his team was outplayed in all three departments.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Andrew Balbirnie
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Andrew Balbirnie. (Photo Source: Twitter)

After the first ODI was washed off due to rain, Ireland had a day to remember on Tuesday, July 13 at The Village in Dublin. The hosts registered their maiden ODI win against South Africa, beating them by 43 runs. Skipper Andrew Balbirnie’s unbeaten century helped the Irish team script history.

Ireland got off to a steady start courtesy of a 64-run opening partnership between Paul Stirling (27) and Balbirnie (102). Once Keshav Maharaj separated them, Balbirnie and Andrew McBrine carried the good work with a 60-run stand. Harry Tector and George Dockrell didn’t flatter to deceive either.

Tector was impressive as his 68-ball 79, decorated with six fours and four sixes, came at a strike rate of 116.18. Dockrell was brutal as he scored 45 at a rate of 195.65. In the meantime, Balbirnie notched his seventh ODI century and took Ireland to a formidable score of 290 in their 50 overs.

Bowlers step up for the hosts

The Proteas stuttered at the start of their run-chase as Craig Young and Joshua Little got rid of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma cheaply. However, Janneman Malan (84) and Rassie van der Dussen (49) put on 108 for the third wicket. But once, Dockrell removed Malan, the visitors lost their way.

Kyle Verrynne, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, and Maharaj got into double figures, but couldn’t convert. Mark Adair, Andrew McBrine, and Little shared two wickets each, even as the others got one scalp each to their name. The Proteas were eventually shot out for 247 nine balls short of 50 overs.

Following the thumping win, Balbirnie was over the moon and he lauded the efforts of his teammates, especially Tector. Bavuma, on the other hand, accepted that South Africa were outplayed in all three departments.

We created chances but our fielding let us down: Temba Bavuma

“The way our guys bowled at the death and the middle was amazing. It was a win that we really needed. I thought we out fielded them today, which made the difference. Tector’s freedom while batting was match-winning. We’ll enjoy this – it’s the first time we have beaten them and it’s a huge day for Ireland,” Balbirnie said after the match.

“We didn’t take it lightly, but they outplayed us in all facets. Their fielding was impressive. They nailed their batting and bowling skills too, and we need to do a lot of work. The plan for us in the first PP was taking wickets and we couldn’t do so. We created chances but our fielding let us down,” Bavuma stated.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Ireland’s win:

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