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Middle-order batter Tristan Stubbs starred with an unbeaten 81-ball 112 as South Africa beat Ireland by a massive margin of 174 runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Stubbs' maiden ODI century helped South Africa post a daunting total of 343/4. In reply, Ireland suffered a collapse and were bowled out for 169 in the 31st over.
Stubbs’ maiden ton in sixth ODI
Earlier, Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first. South Africa started well but Bavuma was retired hurt after the 12th over when he was batting on 35 off 39 balls. Ryan Rickelton missed his fifty too as he was caught and bowled by Curtis Campher in the 14th over. Rassie van der Dussen got off to a good start too but got bowled by Gavin Hoey. He scored 35 runs from 39 balls. Kyle Verreynne and Stubbs batted well in the middle overs. Verreynne departed after scoring his half-century. He got stumped off Andy McBrine's bowling. He scored 67 runs from 64 balls including five fours.
In the 48th over, Stubbs reached his ODI century from just 75 deliveries. Wiaan Mulder contributed with a 34-ball 43 knock. He was dismissed in the penultimate over by Craig Young. Stubbs' 112 off 81 balls featured eight fours and three sixes.
No.11 becomes highest scorer for team
In the run chase of 344, Ireland lost their openers Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling for single-digit scores to Lizaad Williams and Lungi Ngidi. Williams got two more wickets as Ireland kept on losing wickets. Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin bagged two wickets each whereas Ottniel baartman, Andile Phehlukwayo and Mulder got one wicket each to their name as well. For Ireland, no.11 batter Young was the top-scorer with 29 runs from 21 balls. They were bowled out for 169 with 117 balls left in the innings.
What Stubbs said after the monumental win
“Thought the first game myself and Ricks (Rickleton) got out back to back and today I was a bit more focussed after Kyle (Verreynne) got out. They bowled quite well and the wicket was a bit slow in the first innings. They made us hit to the bigger side and the rotation of strike helped us get through the middle period,” Player of the match Stubbs said in the post-match presentation.
The third and last match of the series will be played on October 7 at the same venue.
Will Stubbs be retained?
Stubbs was in good form in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He scored 378 runs from 13 innings at an average of 54 including three fifties. His strike rate of 190.90 stood out of the lot. It is yet to be seen whether DC retains him for a hefty sum or use Right to Match (RTM) card in the mega auction.
