Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 27th January 2026, 4:59 AM
Italy created history in international cricket by claiming their first victory against a full ICC member side, defeating Ireland in the final match of a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series. Although Italy had already lost the series after defeats in the first two matches, their triumph marked a historic milestone ahead of their debut appearance at the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The third and final T20I, held in Dubai, saw Italy win the toss and elect to field first. Ireland, sent in to bat, managed 154 runs before being bowled out. In response, Italy chased the target successfully, securing a four-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
The match was finely poised until the final overs. Italy required 30 runs from the last two overs to reach the target. Ireland had largely controlled the game until then, but a crucial 14 runs in the penultimate over set up a thrilling finale. In the last over, Grant Stewart delivered a scintillating innings of 33 runs off just 19 balls, steering Italy to victory. Earlier, captain Wenny Madsen top-scored for Italy with 39 runs.
Ireland’s innings began shakily, losing three early wickets for just 35 runs. Opener Ross Adair fell for 6 runs, followed by Harry Tector, who scored 13, and Lorcan Tucker, dismissed for a duck. George Dockrell contributed only 2 runs. Paul Stirling, however, anchored the innings with 45 runs, while Ben Coughlan scored 22, Mark Adair 25, Gareth Delany 18, and Barry McCarthy 11 runs.
Italy’s historic win highlights the growth of cricket in associate nations and boosts their confidence ahead of major ICC tournaments.
Match Summary – Third T20I, Dubai
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 154 all out | Paul Stirling 45 | Early wickets fell at 22, 35, 35 |
| Italy | 155/6 | Wenny Madsen 39, Grant Stewart 33* | Won with 3 balls remaining |
Italy’s performance demonstrates their increasing competitiveness on the international stage. Despite losing the series 2–1, the victory against a full ICC member is a landmark achievement, underlining the rapid development of cricket in non-traditional cricketing nations.
This historic win will be remembered not only for the thrilling chase but also for showing that Italy can challenge established cricketing nations, giving fans hope for their T20 World Cup debut.
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