The Proteas dominated Ireland in the 1st T20I at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dubai, winning by 8 wickets.
The Proteas had a mixed bowling performance against Ireland after putting the opposition into bat.
Ireland got off to a quick start thanks to Ross Adair (18 off 10 balls), who hit three fours and a six, before falling to Wiaan Mulder at the end of the second over.
The Proteas managed to keep the pressure on momentarily when they reduced Ireland to 26-2, Paul Stirling bowled by Ottniel Baartman for 2.
Despite being reduced to 64-3 in the 7th over when Bjorn Fortuin dismissed Harry Tector (16 off 15 balls), Ireland fought back well to post a solid score.
South African-born all-rounder Curtis Campher scored 49 off 36 balls (6 fours, 1 six) and Neil Rock hit 37 off 28 balls (4 fours, 1 six), two crucial innings for their side.
Their 59-run partnership took Ireland to 123 before Rock was the 4th wicket to fall when he was bowled by Nqaba Peter in the 14th over.
Campher and George Dockrell were almost equal contributors in their 35-run stand, taking their side to 158-5 before the former was dismissed by Kruger for his first of 4.
He took his next three all in the final over and conceded just two leg-byes – Dockrell (21), Mark Adair (8) and Fionn Hand (0).
Ireland finishing on 171-8.
Kruger finished with a career-best figures of 4-27.
Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton got an incredible start to the Proteas’ innings.
The pair strung together
Rickelton brought up his maiden half-century, and he was followed by Reeza Hendricks who ended his recent bad form with a half-century of his own.
The pair scored 136 in 13 overs, the highest opening partnership for Proteas outside of South Africa.
Hendricks lost his wicket after a 33-ball 51 (5 fours, 3 sixes).
Rickelton lost his wicket just 5 balls later after a 48-ball 76 (3 fours, 6 sixes).
Needing 34 off 37 needed to win, Matthew Breetzke (19 off 14) and Aiden Markram (17 off 12) took the Proteas over the line.
Scorecard
