Ireland vs Italy T20: Irish win in historic preparation for World Cup in UAE

Matthew Humphries took 4-16 as Ireland defeated Italy in the first of three T20 internationals between the two sides.

Chasing Italy’s 118, Ireland reached their target with three balls and three wickets remaining.

This match in Dubai was the first time Italy’s men had played against a full ICC member nation in a T20 series, and they were put in to bat after Ireland won the toss.

Italy got off to an impressively strong start, reaching 55-1 in 5.3 overs before losing skipper JJ Smuts, bowled by Barry McCarthy.

Anthony Mosca was Italy’s top scorer, with Humphreys finishing off 22 off 35 balls in the seventh over.

The left-arm pacer also dismissed Grant Stewart, Marcus Campopiano and Jasprit Singh – the latter two off successive balls in the 15th over – while Mark Adair took the final wicket of Krishan Kalugamaj as Italy were bowled out for 18.1 overs.

Despite losing opener Paul Sterling to a second-ball duck and Ross Adair for 12 minutes, Harry Tector’s 41 and Lorcan Tucker’s 34 put Ireland in a strong position in their response.

George Dockrell, Gareth Delaney and Mark Adair fell cheaply late on, but Ben Calitz and McCarthy helped Ireland over the line.

The three-match series in the UAE, which forms part of both teams’ preparations for the T20 Cricket World Cup in February, continues on Sunday.

Co-hosts Ireland will face Sri Lanka in their World Cup opener on February 8 and will also face Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe in Group B.

Italy, which qualifies for the first time, will play Group C matches against Bangladesh, Nepal, England and the West Indies.