Reeza Hendricks hit his fourth successive Twenty20 fifty as South Africa defeated Ireland by 21 runs in their series opener at Bristol on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks, who hit three half-centuries in the Proteas' recent 2-1 series win over England, top-scored with 74 in a total of 211-5 and shared a third-wicket partnership of 112 with Aiden Markram (56).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think I've been working really hard," said Hendricks, now one of just five batsmen to have scored four consecutive half-centuries at this level, during the presentation ceremony. "Momentum is important. I've been enjoying English conditions."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lorcan Tucker (78) and George Dockrell (43) kept Ireland in the hunt but when the pair were dismissed off successive balls their side's hopes of victory went with them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
'Death-bowling' specialist Wayne Parnell proved his worth for all he was hit for six off the last ball off the innings by tailender Barry McCarthy as Ireland finished on 190-9.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm paceman Parnell returned figures of 2-36, stand-in Proteas captain Keshav Maharaj took 2-29 with his left-arm spin and leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi 2-37.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Ireland, it was yet another case of close but not close enough as they suffered a seventh successive T20 defeat having been competitive against India, New Zealand and now South Africa this season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We were in the game for a long time," said Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie. "The two wickets in two balls made the difference."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks's latest fifty came off 32 balls, including seven fours and a six, while Markram got to the landmark in 25 balls including six boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pair fell to consecutive deliveries, with leg-spinner Gareth Delany having Markram caught at deep square leg before Hendricks holed out to point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland, however, did not help their cause by bowling 13 wides -- more than two extra overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa's attack largely kept Ireland in check but a sixth-wicket stand of 86 between Tucker and Dockrell gave the Proteas something to think about.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tucker faced just 38 balls, including seven fours and five sixes. But he fell when skying Shamsi to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the last delivery of the 17th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland needed 42 off the final three overs and the very next ball saw Dockrell well caught by Markram, diving forward from long-off, as he hit out at Dwaine Pretorius.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa suffered a setback before the match started, with captain David Miller ruled out by a back spasm, with fellow batsman Heinrich Klaasen taking his place in the XI.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada had already been sidelined from both matches in a two-game series that concludes in Bristol on Friday with an ankle injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n