Ireland continued their impressive build-up to the T20 Cricket World Cup with a commanding 24-run victory over Italy in a warm-up match at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The standout performance came from Harry Tector, whose career-best unbeaten 96 powered Ireland to a competitive total and underlined his growing importance to the side.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Ireland faced early adversity when opener Ross Adair was dismissed for just one run in the opening overs. With the score reading 13-1, pressure mounted on the Irish batting unit. However, Tector arrived at the crease with calm authority and quickly set about stabilising the innings.
Alongside experienced opener Paul Stirling, Tector injected momentum into Ireland’s innings. The pair counter-attacked with intent, adding 28 runs in just 19 deliveries and shifting the pressure back onto the Italian bowlers. Their positive approach ensured Ireland recovered swiftly from their early setback.
Following Stirling’s departure, Tector continued to anchor the innings, forming a crucial partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker. The duo added 62 runs for the third wicket, providing Ireland with a solid platform. Tucker played a supporting role effectively, contributing 34 runs, while Tector maintained control and composure at the other end.
Despite Tector’s dominance, Ireland’s middle order struggled to provide extended support. No other Irish batter faced more than 22 balls, which meant the responsibility of carrying the innings largely rested on Tector’s shoulders. Nevertheless, his ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries ensured Ireland maintained a healthy run rate throughout the innings.
As the final over approached, Tector stood on 88 runs, eyeing what would have been a historic maiden T20 international century. Two well-timed boundaries brought him within touching distance of the milestone. However, after taking a leg bye from the third ball of the over, he was unable to reclaim the strike. The innings ended with Tector stranded on 96 not out—agonisingly short of a century but still a career-best performance.
Ireland closed their innings on 190-5, a total that looked challenging given the conditions. Italian bowler Jaspreet Singh was the pick of the attack, returning figures of 1-35, but the visitors struggled overall to contain Ireland’s scoring.
Italy’s response began steadily, with openers attempting to pace the chase sensibly. However, Ireland’s bowlers maintained discipline, preventing early acceleration. The breakthrough eventually came, but Italy found stability through a substantial third-wicket partnership between Anthony Musca and Wayne Madsen.
Musca played an aggressive innings, scoring 69 runs, while Madsen complemented him with a composed unbeaten 61. Together, they added 125 runs, briefly reviving Italy’s hopes and keeping the chase alive deep into the innings.
Despite the impressive stand, Italy struggled to maintain the required run rate. Ireland’s bowlers, particularly Barry McCarthy, applied pressure at key moments. McCarthy finished with figures of 2-43, delivering crucial breakthroughs that halted Italy’s momentum.
As the final overs approached, Italy required a surge in scoring that never fully materialised. Tight bowling and sharp fielding from Ireland ensured the asking rate climbed steadily beyond reach. Italy eventually closed on 166-4, falling 24 runs short of their target.
The victory not only secured Ireland the series but also highlighted their growing confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup in February. Tector’s back-to-back strong performances—following his 41 in the previous match—have been a major boost for Ireland’s batting unit.
The three-match series in the United Arab Emirates serves as vital preparation for both teams as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the global tournament. The final match of the series will take place on Monday, though the result will not affect the overall outcome.
Ireland will begin their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Sri Lanka on 8 February and will also face Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe in Group B. Italy, meanwhile, are preparing for their first-ever appearance at a men’s T20 World Cup. The 14th-ranked side was recently confirmed as Bangladesh’s replacement and will open their campaign against Scotland on 9 February in Group C, which also includes England, West Indies, and Nepal.
For Ireland, this victory reinforces their credentials as a competitive force capable of challenging higher-ranked nations, while Italy can take encouragement from their fighting performance and valuable experience against established opposition.
