A Oneindia Venture
Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Notifications
Settings
Clear Notifications
Notifications
Use the toggle to switch on notifications
-
Block for 8 hours
-
Block for 12 hours
-
Block for 24 hours
-
Don't block
Ireland vs United Arab Emirates 1st T20I Full Commentary
Result · Jan 29 2026, Thu - 08:00 PM (IST)
UAE 121/10 (19.5)
IRE 178/6 (20.0)
Ireland beat United Arab Emirates by 57 runs
CRR:6.10
പ്ലെയര് ഓഫ് ദ മാച്ച്
Log in for Better Reading Experience!
Continue with Google By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy
Gender
Select your Gender
- Male
- Female
- Others
Age
Select your Age Range
- Under 18
- 18 to 25
- 26 to 35
- 36 to 45
- 45 to 55
- 55+
X
X
We are back for the chase! The players are on the field and so are the umpires. Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem will open the innings for the United Arab Emirates. Mark Adair will have the new ball in hand with one slip in place. Away we go...
... The Run Chase ...
Mixed results for the UAE bowling attack - The home side’s bowling performance was a mixed bag, struggling with consistency across the 20 overs. Muhammad Arfan stood out as the pick of the bowlers. Despite claiming only one wicket, his exceptional economy rate provided the much-needed control for the UAE. While Junaid Siddique and Haider Ali managed to pick up two wickets each, they were uncharacteristically expensive. Chasing 179 will be a significant challenge for the UAE, especially given the assistance available on this deck and the disciplined bowling lineup Ireland is expected to field for the chase.
Partnerships propel Ireland to a competitive total - The backbone of the Irish innings was a series of crisp, efficient partnerships that allowed the side to reach a solid total of 178 after 20 overs. It was a true collective effort, with nearly every batter getting a start and contributing to the momentum on a pitch that offered notable assistance to the bowlers. These vital mini-stands throughout the batting order turned what could have been a modest score into a formidable target, demonstrating Ireland's depth and tactical adaptability.
Aggressive start and collective resilience - After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ireland's innings began with immediate intent as boundaries flowed from the outset. However, they faced an early setback when captain Paul Stirling was dismissed in the very first over after hitting two quick fours. Despite a steady stream of wickets falling at regular intervals, the Irish batters maintained a high tempo, ensuring the scorecard kept ticking and the boundary count continued to rise. This proactive approach prevented the UAE from building sustained pressure during the middle overs.
FOUR! Now that is some stroke for a boundary from the bat of the southpaw. Short and on leg, Ben Calitz steps across the line, ramps this over the keeper for a boundary behind the stumps. Ireland posts 178.
On a length around middle and off, George Dockrell punts this through mid off for a run.
FOUR! That's been flicked in the gap for four this time. Good length, around middle and leg, George Dockrell flicks this through the gap towards backward square leg for a boundary.
SIX! George Dockrell has fetched the bones out of it. Back of the hand, slower one, on middle and off, George Dockrell hangs onto his back foot and pulls this right from the middle of his bat for a huge six over the deep mid-wicket fielder.
LEG BYE! Yorker, going down the leg, Ben Calitz gets it deflected off his pads to short third for a leg bye.
Almost a head buster for Junaid from Ben Calitz but the bowler does well to evade a horrible situation. Full and around off, Ben Calitz gets right underneath it and smashes this just over the bowler's head for a couple down to long off.
Short and on leg, George Dockrell dabs this behind square on leg, for a couple more to end the over. 10 off this Muhammad Jawadullah over.
FOUR! This has been smashed over mid off for four runs. Pitched up, wide of off, George Dockrell leans low, gets right underneath it and hits this over the fielder at mid off for four runs.
Short and wide around off, going across the batter, George Dockrell smashes this to the right of sweeper cover and runs another couple. Excellent running between the wickets from these two batters.
Good length on the pads, George Dockrell flicks this off his back foot through square leg for a brace.
Back of a length, around middle and off, George Dockrell looks for a mighty heave towards the leg side but misses. Luckily for the batter, the ball was high over the stumps and George Dockrell survives.
Wide yorker around off, George Dockrell dabs this to point.
Short and on middle and off, Ben Calitz mishits the pull through mid-wicket and takes another couple.
A brace for the Irish batters. Full and on middle and off, Ben Calitz drills this down the ground and scampers back on strike.
Back of a length on the pads, George Dockrell tucks this through square leg for a run.
George Dockrell comes in at 8 for Ireland.
OUT! TIMBER! Gareth Delany has been knocked over by Junaid. Another slower one, on top of the leg-pole, Gareth Delany plants his front foot towards his leg and looks to slog this one but misses as the bat swings early and the ball arrives late. Gareth Delany's timber gets rattled.
A slower bumper, wide of off, Ben Calitz pulls this flat to deep mid-wicket for a strike rotation.
Junaid takes a leaf out of Arfan's book and bowls a slower one, short and on off. Gareth Delany smashes this to long on for a single.
Short and on leg, slower from Arfan. Gareth Delany fends this through mid-wicket and takes a run. Delany will be on strike at the start of the next over.
Slower one, back of a length, around off. Gareth Delany blocks this out.
FOUR! A quicker one from Arfan and Gareth Delany flicks this away for four. Good length, slanting down the leg. Gareth Delany rises with the bounce and flicks this through the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for four.
Another back of the hands slower one, around middle and leg. Ben Calitz had to wait for the ball to arrive before pulling this flat to deep square leg for a strike rotation.
Slower one, wide around off, Gareth Delany slaps this to long on for a single.
Back of a length around off, Gareth Delany punches this off his back foot to the bowler's left and Muhammad Arfan does well to field this towards his left.
That brings the curtain down for this match - So Ireland have got their first win in this series, and won it with a big margin of 57 runs. Up next, Ireland will take on the United Arab Emirates on 31st January, Saturday, at 6.00 am GMT. Don't forget to tune in early for all the pre-match build-up. Until then, stay safe and goodbye!
Gareth Delany wins the Player of the Match - After being asked that despite the track not providing any turns, how Delany picked wicket, he starts off saying that his strategy was to keep the stumps in play and limit the opposition's boundary options. He humbly suggests that Dockrell should be receiving the award instead. He highlights the team's current synergy in the spin department, saying they're gelling at the moment. He's excited about the prospect of playing in the T20 World Cup, which is coming up soon.
Captain of Ireland - Paul Stirling says that he feels lovely to visit the UAE and play in the amazing facilities. Adds that they were positive after the first inning that they had put enough runs on the board. Also says that every bowler of their side bowled really well, especially Matthew Humphreys and Gareth Delany.
The skipper of the United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says that they gave 20 runs extra in their bowling inning, but after that pitch was good and it was chasable as well, but the performance was not up to the mark. However, he adds that it's a part of the game and can happen to any team. Ended up saying that he always tries to give his best for his team and in the upcoming match, he feels that a comeback is coming.
Time for the Presentation Ceremony...
Earlier in the evening - Ireland managed to post a formidable total of 178, despite some early jitters in the Powerplay. The Irish batters recovered well, with key contributions through the middle and death overs, allowing them to reach a competitive score. This disciplined batting effort laid the groundwork for the bowlers, ultimately proving to be more than enough to secure a comfortable victory in the series opener.
Humphreys and Delany shred the middle order - Ireland’s bowling unit turned the screws effectively, led by the spin duo of Matthew Humphreys and Gareth Delany. Both bowlers were exceptional, claiming three wickets apiece to dismantle the UAE's batting lineup. Humphreys, continuing his strong recent form, was the pick of the lot, while Delany’s crucial breakthroughs ensured the hosts never recovered from their middle-order collapse. Other bowlers chipped in with tight spells, leaving the UAE far short of their target.
UAE's bright start fizzles out - The chase of 179 began with considerable promise for the UAE. Captain Muhammad Waseem and his opening partner, Aryansh Sharma, came out firing, providing an initial burst that put the Irish bowlers under pressure early on. However, once the opening stand was broken, the home side completely lost their way. A flurry of wickets in the middle overs derailed the chase, as the UAE struggled to maintain the required run rate against a disciplined Irish attack.
Ireland clinch a clinical victory - Ireland delivered a powerhouse performance to kick off their T20I campaign, securing a dominant 57-run win over the UAE. After setting a target of 179, the Irish squad excelled in all facets of the game, stifling the hosts under the lights in Dubai. This clinical display provided Ireland with exactly the momentum they needed to lead the two-match series.
OUT! BOWLED'EM! Done and dusted. This is fuller and on middle. Muhammad Arfan makes room the leg side and looks for a wild swing across the line, but misses, and the ball crashes into the stumps. Ireland beat the United Arab Emirates by 56 runs.
Full, on leg, Arfan whips it to deep square for a brace.
NO BALL! It's the second bumper, on middle, Muhammad Jawadullah miscues his pull shot to short fine leg where the fielder takes the catch, but it's a No Ball. Free Hit is coming up next.
WIDE! Fuller, down the leg side, Muhammad Jawadullah swings and misses. Tucker tosses the ball to McCarthy as Arfan sets off for a single, but he has been sent back in time, as Barry catches the ball and hits the stumps, but Arfan is well in. The ball then further deflects to the mid on region and the batter gets a single.
Short, just outside off, Muhammad Farooq pulls and misses.
Low full toss, on leg, Muhammad Arfan drives it to left of mid on for a single.
FOUR! SHOT! Full toss, angling in, Muhammad Arfan swings his bat swats it to the left of the diving deep square leg fielder for four runs.
Slower delivery, on off, Muhammad Jawadullah mistimes his loft, but gets enough to beat the chasing mid on fielder and gets a couple of runs.
Low full toss, outside off, Muhammad Arfan punches it to deep cover for a single.
Full, on middle, Muhammad Jawadullah pushes it to mid off for one.
Short, on off, Muhammad Arfan pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
On a good length, on leg, Muhammad Jawadullah makes room and pushes it to deep point for a single.
On a length, just outside off, Muhammad Arfan pushes it to long on for a single.
Muhammad Jawadullah is the last man in.
OUT! CAUGHT! Much fuller, wide outside off, Junaid Siddique clears his front foot and looks to slap it over cover, but fails to get the middle of the bat. The ball balloons toward deep cover and Curtis Campher takes a good catch.
Slower and fuller, wide outside off. Junaid Siddique makes room and swings his bat but his willow was nowhere near the delivery.
Bumper, on middle, Junaid Siddique looks to pull it but misses the connection.
Back of a length, just outside off, Muhammad Arfan guides it to deep third for a single.
On a length, wide outside off, Muhammad Arfan looks to heave it across the line but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Back of a length, just outside off, Muhammad Arfan looks to steer it away, but misses.
Back of a length, on middle, Muhammad Arfan steers it to backward point for a single.