Ireland Women 115 for 7 (Shillington 48, Letsoalo 2-17) beat South Africa Women 95 (Chetty 28, Garth 2-12) by 20 runs

Scorecard

File photo - Clare Shillington gave Ireland Women a strong start with a 41-ball 48 after they were put in to bat Getty Images

A dramatic collapse by South Africa Women in their chase of 116 meant that Ireland Women won the second T20I by 20 runs and leveled the two-match series in Dublin. It was also Ireland's first-ever win over South Africa.

South Africa stumbled from 77 for 4 to 95 all out, losing six wickets for 18 runs, all between overs 16 and 20. Trisha Chetty, the only batsman to score more than 20, top-scored with 28, in an innings in which the highest partnership was worth only 19 runs.

Four South African batsmen, including Chetty, were run out as Ireland completed a win with three balls left in the match. Kim Garth picked up 2 for 12 in her four overs while every other Ireland bowler, except Amy Kenealy, picked up a wicket apiece.

Ireland's total of 115 for 7, after they were put in to bat, may have seemed below par at the halfway stage given how well their openers, Clare Shillington and Gaby Lewis, began the innings.

The pair added 78 in 13 overs before Shillington fell for a 41-ball 48 that included six fours and a six. In the next over, medium-pacer Marcia Letsoalo struck twice in the space of five balls to dismiss Lewis and Jennifer Gray and Ireland slipped further when Isobel Joyce was run out for 1 in the 15th over.

Garth and Shauna Kavanagh added 24 for the fifth wicket and took Ireland past the 100-run mark, but their dismissals in the last two overs limited the side's chances of a few extra runs at the end.

The two sides will square off in the first of four ODIs in Dublin on Friday.