Ireland

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty

T20 World Cup warm-up, Dubai (Sevens Stadium):

Ireland 154 (19.4 overs): Stirling 45, Adair 25, Calitz 22; Kalugamage 3-28

Italy 157-6 (19.3 overs): Madsen 39, Stewart 33; Humphreys 2-23; Adair 2-23

Italy won by four wickets

Scorecard (external site), external

Italy secured their first win over a full ICC member as they inflicted a four-wicket defeat on Ireland in the third of the T20 World Cup warm-up matches between the sides in Dubai on Monday.

Ireland had already tied up the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first two games the sides contested on Friday and Sunday.

Opener Paul Stirling laid the foundations for Ireland's total of 154 all out off 19.4 overs with a contribution of 45 which included three sixes and two fours.

He was ably assisted by middle order contributions of 25 and 22 from Mark Adair and Ben Calitz respectively.

Ireland's final four wickets fell for just 16 runs in the space of two overs as their innings ended with two balls still to be bowled.

Crishan Kalugamage was the pick of the Italy bowlers with 3-28, while Grant Stewart and JJ Smuts took two wickets apiece.

Italy's response was a stuttering one, Wayne Madsen contributing best of the top order batters with 39, before his dismissal left his side on 108-5.

Gian-Piero Meade followed soon after with the score on 111, leaving his side requiring 44 from 23 balls to win.

A seventh-wicket partnership of 46 between Stewart (33 off 19 balls) and Marcus Campopiano (8) however was enough to see the Italians over the line with three deliveries to spare.

Matthew Humphreys and Mark Adair ended with identical bowling returns of 2-23 from four overs each.

The series in the United Arab Emirates formed part of both teams' preparations for the T20 World Cup in February.

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

First-time qualifiers Italy will open their campaign against Scotland on 9 February, with England, West Indies and Nepal the other teams in Group C.

Before the start of the tournament, Ireland remain in Dubai for a two-match series against the UAE, the first match taking place on Thursday and the second on Saturday.

Image source, Cricket Ireland

T20 World Cup warm-up, Dubai (Sevens Stadium):

Ireland 190-5 (20 overs): H Tector 96*, Tucker 34; J Singh 1-35

Italy 166-4 (20 overs): J Mosca 69, Masden 61*; McCarthy 2-43

Ireland won by 24 runs

Scorecard (external site), external

Harry Tector's career-best 96 not out guided Ireland to a 24-run win over Italy and gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-game T20 series in Dubai.

With Ireland having lost the toss and been put into bat, Tector began the final over of his side's innings on 88 as he sought to become the fourth men's player to hit a century for Ireland in the format.

After a pair of boundaries brought him four runs shy, he ran a leg bye from the third delivery of the over and did not get back on strike.

The 26-year-old, who also led the way with 41 in Friday's win, had come to the crease when Ireland were 13-1 after opener Ross Adair was out for one when caught by Grant Stewart off the bowling of Thomas Draca.

Tector and opener Paul Stirling injected some life into the Irish innings by smashing a quick 28 off the next 19 deliveries before a 62-run stand for the third wicket with Lorcan Tucker helped them into a comfortable position.

While no Irish player other than Tector faced more than 22 balls, their final tally of 190 felt a challenging one for Italy.

Despite an 125-run partnership between Anthony Musca (69) and Wayne Madsen (61) for the third wicket, they struggled to score at the required rate and their chase ultimately finished 24 runs shy.

The three-match series in the United Arab Emirates, which forms part of both teams' preparation for the T20 Cricket World Cup in February, concludes on Monday (14:00 GMT).

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

First-time qualifiers Italy will now open their campaign against Scotland on 9 February after it was confirmed on Saturday that the 14th-ranked side in the world will replace Bangladesh at the tournament.

England, West Indies and Nepal are the other teams in Group C.

Image source, Cricket Ireland

Ireland v Italy - T20 World Cup warm-up

Italy 118 (18.1 overs): A Mosca 35; M Humphreys 4-16, B McCarthy 2-14

Ireland 119-7 (19.3 overs): H Tector 41, L Tucker 34; G Stewart 3-21

Ireland won by three wickets

Full scorecard (external), external

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

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

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

Italy made an impressively strong start, reaching 55-1 in 5.3 overs before losing captain JJ Smuts, who was bowled by Barry McCarthy.

Anthony Mosca was Italy's top scorer, with his 22-ball knock of 35 ended by Humphreys in the seventh over.

The left-arm spinner also dismissed Grant Stewart, Marcus Campopiano and Jaspreet Singh - the latter two from consecutive balls in the 15th over - while Mark Adair claimed the final wicket of Crishan Kalugamage as Italy were bowled out in 18.1 overs.

Despite losing opener Paul Stirling to a second-ball duck and Ross Adair for 12, Harry Tector's 41 and 34 from Lorcan Tucker put Ireland in a strong position in their reply.

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

The three-match series in the United Arab Emirates, which forms part of both teams' preparation for the T20 Cricket World Cup in February, continues on Sunday.

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

First-time qualifiers Italy have Group C matches against Bangladesh, Nepal, England and West Indies.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland opener Ross Adair has been named in a 15-man squad for next month's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

The former Ulster rugby player had originally been included in Heinrich Malan's squad for the tour of Bangladesh in November but withdrew because of a bone stress in his knee.

His return to the panel means that Ireland's squad is the same as the one that they originally intended to travel for the three-game series which they lost 2-1.

Adair, who has a T20 century to his name against South Africa in September 2024 and averages 28.84 in the format, contributed 26 and 33 against England in his most recent internationals when opening the batting alongside captain Paul Stirling.

In his absence against the Tigers, Tim Tector was promoted into the starting line-up and averaged 29 across the three matches with a high score of 38.

Ireland are in a group with Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe at the World Cup, opening against the hosts in Colombo on 8 February.

All four of their pool games will be played in Sri Lanka as the side look to improve upon their winless showing at the tournament in the USA two years ago that included a shock 12-run defeat by Canada.

Before their opening match next month, they will face Italy three times and the UAE twice in a series of warm-up fixtures between 23-31 January.

Ireland T20 squad for T20 World Cup: Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Craig Young

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland's third and final T20 international in South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled after heavy rain and lightning in Benoni.

Play had been due to start at 16:00 GMT on Wednesday but, after the toss was delayed three times, the decision was made shortly after 17:30.

The hosts had already secured a 2-0 series win with their 65-run victory in Paarl on Sunday.

Ireland's tour continues with the start of a three-game series of one-day internationals on Saturday (08:00 GMT).

Image source, Getty Images

First Twenty20 international, Cape Town

South Africa 220-2 (20 overs): Wolvaardt 115*, Luus 81; Canning 1-33

Ireland 115 (18 overs): Paul 34, Lewis 30; Luus 4-22

South Africa win by 105 runs

Scorecard

South Africa Women cruised to victory by 105 runs in their first Twenty20 international against Ireland Women in Cape Town.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first, but Jane Maguire removed Faye Tunnicliife after just one run.

South Africa recovered well courtesy of captain Laura Wolvaardt, who led the way as she registered 115 not out including 15 fours and four sixes.

Wolvaardt recorded the seventh fastest century in Women's T20 International history, needing just 52 deliveries to get to the milestone.

Sune Luus added 81 more runs as the World Cup runners-up set a big target of 221 for Ireland, which they fell well short of.

Lloyd Tennant's side had a difficult opening to their chase as they lost two wickets inside the first over with Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast dismissed.

Captain Gaby Lewis (30) and Leah Paul (34) steadied the ship, but Ireland were all out for 115 after 18 overs with Luus claiming four wickets.

The teams will face off again in the second T20 on Sunday in Paarl at 12:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Third Twenty20 international, Chattogram

Ireland 117(19.5 overs): Sterling 38, Dockrell 19; Rahman 3-11

Bangladesh 119-2 (13.4 overs): THasan55, Emon 33; H Tector 1-17

Bangladesh won by eight wickets

Scorecard

Bangladesh secured victory over Ireland by eight wickets in the decisive third Twenty20 international between the sides in Chattogram.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim equalled the record for most number of catches from an outfielder in T20 cricket with five.

To make it more remarkable, all five of his catches came in consecutive Irish wickets as Bangladesh limited the visitors to 117 all out with one ball remaining.

After winning the second T20 on Sunday to level the series, Bangladesh were too strong for Ireland in their innings and needed just 13.4 overs to score 119 and win by eight wickets.

Ireland won the first match between the sides by a convincing 39 runs before the home side levelled the series with a four-wicket victory on Saturday.

In Tuesday's decider, Tim Tector was the first Irish batter dismissed on 17, and his brother Harry was the next to fall on five with Ireland at a half-century.

Lorcan Tucker was bowled by Shak Mahedi Hasan to be out on one run, and Curtis Campher followed on nine before Paul Stirling fell in the 11th over to leave Ireland on 73-5.

Tanzid then caught Gareth Delaney (10), Mark Adair (eight), Matthew Humphreys (one), George Dockrell (19) and Ben White (five) in five consecutive Irish wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of 3-11, and White's dismissal left Ireland all out on 117 with one ball remaining.

Despite the losses of Saif Hassan (19) and Litton Das (seven) in the opening five overs, Bangladesh were comfortable with the bat and 55 from the impressive Tanzid and 33 from Hossain Emon powered Bangladesh to 119 and an eight-wicket victory.

It was a successful series for Bangladesh, who also dominated the two-match Test series between the sides before the three T20s.

Image source, BCB

Second Test, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur (day five of five)

Bangladesh 476 (Das 128, Mushfiqur 106; McBrine 6-109) & 297-4 (Mominul 87, Shadman 78; Hoey 2-84)

Ireland 265 (Tucker 75, Neill 49, Doheny 46; Taijul 4-76) & 291 (Campher 71*, Tector 50, Murad 4-44)

Bangladesh win by 217 runs

Scorecard

Bangladesh eventually overcame a spirited Ireland on the final day of the second Test to claim a 2-0 series win in Mirpur.

They won the second Test by 217 runs, having claimed victory in the first Test by an innings and 47 runs.

Heinrich Mallan's Ireland side knew they were up against it on Sunday, as they needed 333 more runs on day five to spring an almighty surprise.

While they fell short of their 509 target, Curtis Campher impressed as he dug in for 71 not out from 259 balls.

He was partnered by Test debutant Gavin Hoey, who enjoyed a 104-ball stay that brought 37 runs, including four fours, as he and Campher pushed on into the middle session of the day.

Shortly after lunch, Ireland's total had become the highest fourth-innings Test score in Dhaka by a visiting side.

Bangladesh eventually wrapped up victory and the series in the 60th over of the day as Hoey and then Matthew Humphreys were dismissed by Hasan Murad.

Ireland ended all out for 291 as Murad finished with 4-44.

"At the start of the day the main word we had was fight," said Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie.

"We knew we would be up against it for most of the day but the application by Curtis and Gavin was really amazing and even Jordan [Neill], the way he played, but particularly Curtis to be out there for as long as he was.

"A lot of resilience but at the same time, we were definitely outplayed, and Bangladesh were deserving of their win."

The second Test will be followed by three T20 internationals, the first of which takes place on Thursday, 27 November.