Van Niekerk’s 19-ball 41 powered South Africa to their second straight 200-plus total, setting up a commanding 65-run victory.
South Africa 201 for 5 (Tunnicliffe 51, van Niekerk 41, Maguire 3-43) beat Ireland 136 for 3 (Prendergast 51*, Tryon 2-24) by 65 runs.
Dane Van Niekerk’s late assault, following a steady half-century from Faye Tunnicliffe, guided South Africa to a 65-run win over Ireland in the second T20I in Paarl, sealing an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After choosing to bat, South Africa piled up 201 for 5 in their 20 overs. In response, allrounder Orla Prendergast struck an unbeaten 43-ball 51 and Leah Paul added 40 from 29 deliveries, but Ireland could only reach 136 for 3, well short of the target.
In her comeback series, van Niekerk smashed a rapid 19-ball 41 in the latter half of the innings, helping South Africa post their second successive 200-plus total. Her knock featured three fours and three sixes. By the time she was dismissed by Arlene Kelly, the run rate had surged past ten an over. Chloe Tryon added an unbeaten 16 off seven balls at the death, taking the total to 201 and surpassing Lizelle Lee’s record for the most sixes by a South Africa batter in women’s T20Is (49).
Van Niekerk’s explosive cameo built on a more measured but vital innings from Tunnicliffe at the top. She brought up her maiden T20I fifty from 40 balls, anchoring the innings alongside fellow opener Sune Luus as the pair put on a 78-run stand.
Aimee Maguire removed both openers and captain Laura Wolvaardt, finishing with figures of 3 for 43 from her four overs.
Ireland struggled to get going in the chase, managing only 33 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Tryon then removed both openers — Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis — leaving Ireland at 35 for 2 in the seventh over.
Their scoring rate never accelerated, but Prendergast and Paul held firm, adding 76 for the third wicket. Paul eventually departed for 40, while Prendergast stayed till the end to bring up her half-century off 39 balls in the final over. By that point, the result was already beyond doubt.
