Ireland beat Italy by three wickets in the first T20I at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium on January 23, 2026, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing a modest target of 119, Ireland reached 119 for seven with three balls to spare, despite a late scare from Italy’s bowlers.
Matthew Humphreys starred with the ball, returning figures of four for 16 in four overs as Italy was bowled out for 118 in 18.1 overs. Barry McCarthy supported him well, picking up two wickets for 14 runs to clean up the tail.
Humphreys Wrecks Italy’s Middle Order
Matthew Humphreys came on after the power play and changed the course of the innings. Italy was 45 for two when he began his spell, but regular wickets prevented the batting side from building any momentum.
His four wickets came at key moments, breaking partnerships as soon as they began to form. Bowling tight lines, Humphreys conceded fewer than four runs per over while picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Barry McCarthy cleaned up the lower order with two quick wickets, finishing with figures of two for 14 from three overs. Between Humphreys and McCarthy, Ireland controlled the middle and death overs effectively.
Italy’s top order struggled throughout the innings. JJ Smuts and captain Wayne Madsen, both experienced players, were dismissed cheaply. The top four batters combined for fewer than 30 runs.
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Chasing 119, Ireland faced early pressure from Grant Stewart, who picked up three wickets for 21 runs. The Italian seamer removed Ross Adair early and later dismissed Paul Stirling just as the captain appeared set.
Harry Tector came in at number four and played a stabilising role, scoring 41 off 40 balls. With wickets falling at the other end, Tector focused on rotating the strike rather than taking risks. Lorcan Tucker joined him with Ireland at 52 for three. The pair put together a steady partnership that brought Ireland back on track. Tucker scored 34 off 34 balls, keeping the scoreboard moving.
Thomas Draca took two wickets for 25 runs with his left-arm spin as Italy continued to apply pressure. At 94 for six, the match remained in the balance with more than three overs remaining. George Dockrell saw Ireland home with an unbeaten 11, hitting the winning runs with three balls to spare. Ireland secured the points but had to work hard for the victory.
Italy Shows Fight Despite Low Total
Anthony Mosca batted at number nine and top-scored with 35 off 22 balls. That tells you how badly Italy’s top order failed. Mosca came in with his team struggling and played some big shots to get them past 100.
Harry Manenti made 20 off 19 balls batting at number seven. These two lower-order batsmen added more runs than the entire top six combined. Italy’s batting lineup needs its experienced players to step up in the next match.
Grant Stewart nearly pulled off a shock with the ball. His three wickets put Ireland under real pressure. He got the ball to swing early and then used slower balls well in the middle overs. Stewart has played county cricket in England, and it showed in his bowling.
Italy qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026 after beating Scotland in the European qualifiers. This is their first bilateral series against a Full Member nation. They lost this match but competed hard enough to take confidence into the second T20I on January 25.
The T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in India and Sri Lanka later this year. Italy needs to use this series to figure out their best eleven and give match time to all their squad members. Playing against Ireland, ranked 11th in T20Is, gives them proper preparation.
What the Numbers Say
Ireland has now beaten Italy twice in T20 internationals. Italy is ranked 28th in the format and remains in search of its first win against a Full Member team, although this match showed the side can compete when it applies pressure.
The match referee was Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe, with Akbar Ali and Shiju Sam of the UAE officiating as on-field umpires. There was no TV umpire for the match.
Ireland selected 11 players from its 15-man squad, with Ben White, Craig Young, Josh Little, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Ben Calitz, Tim Tector, and Mark Adair not included. Italy did not use Marcus Campopiano, Zain Ali, or Crishan Kalugamage.
The series continues on January 25 at the same venue. Ireland will aim to seal the series, while Italy needs a win to force a decider on January 26.
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