The third T20 international between Ireland and South Africa takes place in Belfast on Saturday, an opportunity for the Proteas to complete a clean sweep before they return home.
The Proteas drew first blood in the T20's with a 33 run victory in Dublin on Monday and then made sure of a series win with a 42 run victory in Belfast on Thursday.
South Africa have batted first in both matches and on Thursday they were in trouble at 58/5 at the half way stage of their innings. Skipper Temba Bavuma and Janneman Malan were both out for ducks but David Miller rescued the situation with an unbeaten 75 off 44 balls including 5 of the 7 maximums in the innings.
Ireland folded pretty quickly in their reply, all out for 117 with Shamsi (3/14) and Fortuin (3/16) doing the damage. David Miller was named Man of the Match.
In the opening match of the series in Dublin on Monday Ireland restricted South Africa to 165/7 (Aiden Markram 39). Ireland lost both openers with just 7 runs on the board and their reply closed on 132/9. Tabraiz Shamsi (4/27) was the outstanding Proteas bowler, earning the Man of the Match award.
This was how the teams lined up in Belfast on Thursday.
Ireland: Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie (c), George Dockrell, Harry Tector, Simi Singh, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Shane Getkate, Mark Adair, Craig Young, Joshua Little
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
We remain in Belfast for the final match of the series.
You can check the weather forecast here
The Betting
Ireland are currently trading at around 3/1 to win the game and South Africa can be backed at around 1/6.
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
Ireland had no answer to Shamsi again on Thursday and whilst a series clean sweep will be the target they may well make a few changes with this being the last game of the tour.
With the T20 World Cup looming some Proteas players still have chance to stake a claim for a starting berth including Reeza Hendricks, a speculative selection as the top SA bat.
Ireland have struggled in the batting department but their skipper Andrew Balbirnie has looked their most accomplished player with the willow including a ton in the ODI series. Balbirnie is the pick to top score for Ireland.
Finally, a hunch, not the strongest justifcation for a bet but I think Ireland might bat first and if so the evidence so far suggests they could struggle. If SA are tasked with chasing a small target it brings “no 50” into the equation.
Bets: Top SA Bat Reeza Hendricks, 3/1
Top Ireland Bat Andrew Balbirnie, 33/10
50 to be scored in the match? No at 3/1
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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