Ken Borland

David Miller put his foot on the pedal in spectacular fashion at the end of his innings, after the wheels had fallen off the Proteas top-order, leading South Africa to a 42-run win over Ireland in the second T20 International at Stormont in Belfast on Thursday evening, giving them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Paul Stirling’s part-time off-spin was the vehicle for Ireland to make a dream start after they lost the toss and had to bowl first, the burly opening batsman having both Temba Bavuma and Janneman Malan caught at backward point for ducks in the first over.

South Africa were three down in the fourth over when Aiden Markram, driving loosely, was bowled by Mark Adair for 8, and when Quinton de Kock (27 off 20) was adjudged to be lbw to off-spinner Simi Singh to the first ball after the powerplay, the Proteas were in desperate trouble on 38 for four.

That’s when Miller came to the crease and South Africa were driven to their total of 159 for seven by his fabulous 75 not out off 44 balls. Wiaan Mulder helped his experienced partner to break the cycle of wickets as he contributed an impressive 36 off 26 balls as they added 58 off 43 deliveries for the sixth wicket.

South Africa went into the final over on a moderate 135 for seven, but Miller finished the innings in magnificent style, hitting left-armer Josh Little for four sixes and turning down singles on the other two deliveries.

Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin then removed veteran Kevin O’Brien in the first over of Ireland’s innnings, for his second successive duck, and left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks had Andy Balbirnie caught behind for 6 inside the powerplay.

The middle overs were once again a time of celebration for superstar wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi as he removed the dangerous duo of Paul Stiring (19) and birthday boy George Dockrell (20) in his first two overs. In between, part-time off-spinner Markram dismissed Harry Tector  as Fortuin plucked a low catch diving forward at extra over.

Shamsi also added the wicket of Ireland’s top-scorer, Shane Getkate for 24.

Ireland were eventually all out for 117 in the last over, with Fortuin finishing with a career-best three for 16 in his four overs, which included a maiden, while Shamsi posted the outstanding figures of three for 14.

Seamers Lungi Ngidi (3.3-0-14-1) and Hendricks (4-0-28-2) displayed encouraging form with the ball as well.

–

The Unlimited Titans pace bowlers were able to tear through the bizhub Highveld Lions top-order to set up a thrilling 12-run win on the Duckworth/Lewis Method in their Momentum One-Day Cup match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday.

For a long time it looked as if it was not going to be the Titans’ day as Willowmoore Park’s terrible facilities saw a three-hour delay in play due to wet patches after just a 20-minute shower, that after the home side had posted a challenging 255 for nine in their 50 overs.

The lengthy interruption, in bright sunshine, meant the Lions’ innings was reduced to 20 overs and their target to 149. With all 10 wickets in hand – they were 10 without loss after 1.5 overs when the rain arrived – the advantage was very much with the Lions.

But the hostile, persistent bowling of JP de Villiers, Junior Dala and Ethy Mbhalati reduced the Lions to 46 for four and, were it not for the brilliance of Alviro Petersen, who struck 48 off 36 balls, the visitors would have been right out of the game.

The dismissal of Petersen, caught by De Villiers running in from long-on off a full toss from spinner Graeme van Buuren in an over that had already cost 16, was obviously a key moment, and with bowlers Matt McGillivray and Hardus Viljoen being bombarded with short-pitched bowling, they were unable to score the 44 runs required off 23 balls.

There was much to like about the approach of De Villiers (4-0-20-2), Dala (4-0-19-1) and Mbhalati (4-0-25-1) in making full use of the conditions, especially the steep bounce on offer.

The Titans reached their total thanks to a late boost given to the innings by Qaasim Adams, who took a liking to the bowling of Pumelela Matshikwe and McGillivray in the closing overs, belting 59 off 56 balls.

It was a top-class innings by the 30-year-old, who came to the crease with the Titans on a shaky 146 for five. The departure of Jacques Rudolph, for a composed, high-quality 77 off 105 balls, and Albie Morkel (2) shortly thereafter, left them on 181 for seven, but Adams found a willing ally in De Villiers, who scored a bright 26 off 18 balls, in a crucial stand of 43 off 36 deliveries.

Teenager Bjorn Fortuin took three for 47 with his left-arm spin, while McGillivray claimed three for 49 after Adams hit him for two fours and a six in the penultimate over.

Top-order star Jacques Rudolph will be playing his long-form cricket away from South Africa in the foreseeable future as the Titans batsman confirmed yesterday that he will not be available for the remainder of the Sunfoil Series.

Rudolph, who has scored a busload of runs for the Titans in four-day cricket – 3003 at an average of 49.22 with eight centuries and 16 half-centuries – will be returning to county cricket in a couple of months.

The left-hander will be carrying the responsibility of being Glamorgan’s overseas pro and he told The Pretoria News that his body just could not take the strain of playing cricket all year round.

“I have struggled from previous experiences playing full seasons abroad and at home. I want to arrive mentally fresh because the workload in county cricket is far more than in South Africa,” the 32-year-old said.

“That’s why I made myself unavailable from the start of the season already, committing to only five Sunfoil Series games for the Titans at the start of the season. It’s certainly not a retirement from four-day cricket, but a move to manage my mind and body more efficiently. It is very difficult to play all year.”

Before there are protestors banging on the gates of SuperSport Park, Rudolph will return to the franchise next summer and, although his focus will be on the limited-overs game, he has an open mind about playing four-day cricket too.

“I will have communications with Rob [coach Rob Walter] during the county season. I would still like to throw my name in the hat in regards to one-day cricket in South Africa. And if I don’t play four-day cricket here next season, I would like to assist the younger players where possible,” Rudolph said.

The Titans are certainly going to miss their most experienced, successful batsman as they look to recover from a poor start in this season’s Sunfoil Series, but Rudolph’s absence does allow Heino Kuhn to stamp his mark as a senior player and the likes of Francois le Clus to develop his talent.

“Jacques has been an integral part of the Titans’ successes in the past and to lose him, albeit just for the rest of this season’s four-day campaign, will obviously impact the team. But that said, it also provides an opportunity for our younger players to step up and fill the space that Jacques leaves.

“He remains an integral member of the Titans set-up and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” Walter said.