South Africa beat Ireland to level series

South Africa bounced back from their defeat by Ireland on Friday, coasting to an eight-wicket victory over Ireland in the second T20 international of the HBV Studios International Women's Cricket Series at Pembroke Cricket Club.

A disciplined bowling performance from the victors restricted Ireland to 106-7 after 20 overs before Lara Goodall starred with a quickfire half-century to ensure the finish line was reached with five overs still left to spare.

Gaby Lewis won the toss and chose to bat first as Ireland looked to replicate their winning formula from the opening match. Lewis looked in fine touch from the get-go, twice depositing Nonkululeko Mlaba over mid-off for four in the first over.

While Leah Paul initially struggled to get going – she was on 1 off 10 – back-to-back leg-side boundaries off Nadine de Klerk saw her enter the contest. But there was no repeat of Paul's and Lewis's momentous opening partnership from Friday, as the electric Shabnim Ismail had the former pinned lbw in the fourth over of the match.

Lewis deposited de Klerk for six over deep midwicket the next over but South Africa began to wrestle back control; Lewis departed in the ninth over to Mlaba for 31 after she found Ismail at long-off.

Mary Waldron unfurled sweeps to both sides of the wicket off the bowling of Chloe Tryon, but Ireland went more than seven overs without a boundary during the second half of the innings.

Waldron battled to 24 but Rachel Delaney (12) was the only other Ireland batter to reach double figures.

De Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune each bagged a pair of scalps, while Ismail was the most economical operator, conceding just 13 runs from her four overs.

South Africa immediately laid down a marker when the chase got underway. Goodall