Ireland suffer eight-wicket loss to South Africa in T20 opener

Curtis Campher fell one run short of scoring a half century

First T20 international, Abu Dhabi

Ireland 171-8 (20 overs): Campher 49, Rock 37; Kruger 4-27

South Africa 174-2 (17.4 overs): Rickelton 76, Hendricks 51

South Africa won by eight wickets

Scorecard

Ireland lost by eight wickets to South Africa in the first of two T20 internationals between the sides at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Curtis Campher top-scored with the bat for Ireland, accumulating 49 as his team made 171-8 off their 20 overs.

South Africa's reply was a dominant one, Ryan Rickelton (76) and Reeza Hendricks (51) putting on an opening partnership of 136 as the Proteas reached 174-2 to reach their target with 14 balls to spare.

The second T20 match between the sides will be played at the same venue on Sunday when Ireland will aim to secure their first ever T20 victory over their opponents at the seventh attempt.

That will be followed by a three-match ODI series.

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.

Campher pick of Ireland batters

With regular opening batsman Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20 encounters, Ireland began the game with a new top-two pairing of Ross Adair with Paul Stirling.

Adair scored a quickfire 18 off just 10 balls before being dismissed, then Stirling's departure for two left their side 26-2 after just 2.2 overs.

Harry Tector managed 16 as the score advanced to 64-3, before a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 between Campher and Neil Rock (37) took them to 123-4.

Campher became the fifth wicket to fall, with George Dockrell (21) following him to the pavilion in the first ball of the final over.

Fionn Hand and Mark Adair also lost their wickets in that last over of the Ireland innings, the latter three batters falling to Patrick Kruger who finished with bowling figures of 4-27.

South Africa's response was decisive before Hendricks was eventually out lbw to Craig Young at the end of the 13th over after an innings which included three sixes and five fours.

Soon after Rickelton was caught by Campher off the bowling of Mark Adair after his outstanding knock, smashing six sixes and three fours as he compiled his 76 off 48 deliveries.

Matthew Breetzke and captain Aiden Markram were unbeaten on 19 and 17 respectively as they helped their side over the line.