Ireland vs United Arab Emirates Highlights, 1st T20I | Jan 29: Gareth Delany, Bowlers Shine as Ireland Seal 57-Run Win to Take 1-0 Lead

IRE VS UAE 1st Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates T20I HIGHLIGHTS saw Ireland register a commanding 57-run win over the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Batting first after winning the toss, Ireland posted 178 for 6 before bowling UAE out for 121 in 19.5 overs. The result gave Ireland a 1–0 lead in the two-match T20I series.

Ireland’s decision to bat first set the tone for a controlled, percentage-based innings on a surface that offered enough pace for stroke-making but rewarded discipline with the ball. The early overs were frantic rather than fluent, with Paul Stirling departing in the first over, but Ireland avoided a full collapse by resetting through the middle phase. The scoring rate never stagnated for long, even when wickets fell, which kept the innings structurally intact.

Ross Adair provided the first layer of stability with a 39 off 29 balls, striking five fours and a six to steady Ireland after early losses. Lorcan Tucker then injected momentum with a 38 off 25, ensuring the run rate climbed beyond eight an over. Curtis Campher’s 25 further deepened the innings before a late acceleration from Ben Calitz and George Dockrell transformed a competitive total into a demanding one.

The final five overs proved decisive. Calitz’s unbeaten 26 from 12 balls and Dockrell’s 22 from 10 lifted Ireland to 178 for 6, a total that stretched the UAE bowling attack despite Muhammad Arfan’s economical four-over spell. Ireland’s depth meant there was no prolonged slowdown, and the innings closed with sustained pressure on the fielding side.

UAE’s chase never found sustained momentum. Although Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem added 54 for the opening stand, the required rate steadily climbed. Once the partnership was broken, wickets fell regularly through the middle overs. Ireland’s bowlers maintained control rather than hunting magic deliveries, compressing scoring options and forcing errors as UAE slipped behind in the game.

Toss Winner

The Irish won the toss and elected to set the target.

Key Moment

Gareth Delany’s middle-overs spell, where he claimed three wickets for 26 runs including key dismissals of Aryansh Sharma and Rahul Chopra, halted UAE’s chase just as it threatened to stabilize.

Star Performer / MVP

Gareth Delany defined the match with figures of 3 for 26 in four overs, breaking partnerships and controlling the middle phase during UAE’s chase.

Ireland vs United Arab Emirates Match Summary

IRE vs UAE Playing XI

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys

United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma, Muhammad Waseem, Sohaib Khan, Rahul Chopra, Alishan Sharafu, Harshit Kaushik, Basil Hameed, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

FAQs: Yesterday’s Ireland vs United Arab Emirates 1st T20I (Jan 29, 2026)

Q1: What was the final score of yesterday’s Ireland vs United Arab Emirates match?
A1: Yesterday (January 29, 2026): 1st T20I
Ireland (178/6 in 20 overs) beat United Arab Emirates (121 all out in 19.5 overs) by 57 runs.
Ireland: Lorcan Tucker top-scored with 38.
United Arab Emirates: Muhammad Waseem led the batting with 40.
Result: Ireland led the series 1–0.

Q2: Who received the Player of the Match award?
A2: Gareth Delany was named the Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 3 for 26 in four overs.

Q3: Where was the match played, and who won the toss?
A3: The match was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first.

Q4: Who were the top performers with the bat for both sides?
A4: For Ireland, Lorcan Tucker was the leading scorer with 38 runs. For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem top-scored with 40 runs.