Ireland defeated Italy by three wickets in a T20 warm-up in Dubai, chasing 119 with three balls to spare. Matthew Humphreys starred with 4-16, restricting Italy to 118. Lorcan Tucker hit 34 and Harry Tector scored 41, guiding Ireland to victory in their first preparation match for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

This clash marked the first T20 series between Italy and an ICC full-member nation, a milestone for the Italian side. Italy started strongly at 55-1 but collapsed, with Anthony Mosca top-scoring with 35. Ireland’s bowlers, including Barry McCarthy, executed well to set up a controlled chase despite a late wobble.

Ireland now continues its World Cup prep with two more matches in the UAE. They face co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 8 in their tournament opener. Italy, a first-time qualifier, will test itself against Bangladesh, Nepal, England, and West Indies in Group C, making this series vital for their big-stage readiness.