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Ireland vs South Africa
Malahide Cricket Club, The Village
Dublin, Ireland
Monday, 19 July
1st of 3-match T20I series
Ireland and South Africa will turn their attention to the shortest format of the game on Monday, when they meet in the first of three
T20I cricket matches scheduled for this week.
The two nations ended the three-match ODI series level at 1-1 with the Proteas able to spare their blushes. After rain abandoned the first match, Ireland claimed a memorable scalp in the second but the Proteas fought back in the third to square the series.
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Centuries by Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock led South Africa to victory on Friday and despite the positive result, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma knows his team still have a lot of work to do if they are to get where they desire to be in 50-over cricket.
“We were good for the majority of the game; our skills were up until the last 10-15 overs of their innings when we let our standards down. We squared the series, and that was a positive, but it wasn’t the way we wanted to finish off the game," said Bavuma.
South Africa cricket coach Mark Boucher is confident that his team will be at their best in the T20I matches this week, following an admittedly underwhelming performance in the ODI series.
Boucher revealed that civil unrest in South Africa coupled with a prolonged spell in the bio-bubble is taking its toll on the Proteas squad in Ireland, but believes energy levels will peak as a return to home draws closer.
"To say it's not affecting us is not true. It is affecting us and every South African," Boucher told the ESPNCricinfo website.
"Having to be locked down in your room can be quite tough, especially if you have been personally affected.
"We are going along with a gut feel of what we feel is best for the players and trying to be there for the guys who feel quite emotionally drained by what is going on."
Before jetting into Ireland, South Africa faced the West Indies in two Test matches and a three-match T20I series in the Carribean, which the visitors won 2-0 and 3-2 respectively.
"This Irish team is no walkover team," Boucher added. "They have had some close series against England, who are a very good team. If we thought we'd just rock up at 70 per cent, we are going to get tested in a massive way.
"The energy levels will be a lot higher in the remaining three games.
"We've been on tour for two months, guys have been away from home, families and things are happening at home. Now, it's about emptying the tanks," the former Proteas wicket-keeper concluded.
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In team news, Kevin O'Brien is set to be recalled by Ireland. The big-hitting opener has retired from ODIs but remains available in the shortest format.
For South Africa, Wiaan Mulder and George Linde have both been tipped to start.
Head-to-head record in T20I matches:
Ireland and South Africa have never met in a T20I
Ireland vs South Africa, tour schedule:
(All T20I matches to start at 17h00 CAT):
11 July 1st ODI Ireland vs South Africa, Malahide, Dublin -
match abandoned due to rain
13 July 2nd ODI Ireland vs South Africa, Malahide, Dublin -
Ireland won by 43 runs
16 July 3rd ODI Ireland vs South Africa, Malahide, Dublin -
South Africa won by 70 runs
20 July 1st T20I Ireland v South Africa, Malahide, Dublin
22 July 2nd T20I Ireland v South Africa, Stormont, Belfast
24 July 3rd T20I Ireland v South Africa, Stormont, Belfast
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