Ireland Vs Italy LIVE Cricket Score, 1st T20I: IRE Win By 3 Wickets To Gain 1-0 Lead In Series

Good Morning Cricket fans. This is the start of our live blog of the 1st T20I match between Ireland and Italy at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Stay tuned for the real-time updates, live scores and more.

Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Ireland: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (C), Harry Manenti, Marcus Campopiano (WK), Grant Stewart, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca and Gian-Piero Meade

Italy: Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little and Matthew Humphreys

It has been a very good start for the Italian batters but it has been equally good for the Irish bowlers who have also picked up three wickets within the first six overs.

Justin Mosca got out for a duck, while Anthony Mosca and JJ Smuts smashed quickfire 35 and 18 to conclude the powerplay. Skipper Wayne Madsen and Harry Manenti are currently at the crease.

Italian captain Wayne Madsen has gone for 10 off 12 while Harry Manenti is still at the crease for 20 runs. Grant Stewart was the latest to fall for a 5-ball duck.

Italy have been bowled out for 118 runs and it has been quite a decent effort from them. Opening batter Anthony Mosca was their best batter, scoring 35 off 22.

Ireland's chase has kicked-off but skipper Paul Stirling has got out for a 2-ball duck. Ross Adair and Harry Tector are in the middle

The powerplay is done and Ireland are 46/2, which is lesser than what Italy scored in the first 6 overs.

End of the over and it’s a tidy one, just five runs conceded. Ireland move to 86 for 2, with Harry Tector steady on 40 and Lorcan Tucker giving good support on 26 as they keep things ticking along.

What an over from Grant Stewart! Just one run and two wickets as Ireland slide to 112 for 7 after 18 overs. Stewart strikes twice, removing Delany and Adair, and finishes with superb figures of 4-0-21-3. Barry McCarthy survives a nervy couple of balls, while Benjamin Calitz stays on 4. Despite the collapse, Ireland still need just seven runs from the final two overs, but the pressure has suddenly ramped up.

Ireland really had to work hard in order to attain this victory against Italy. The Irish team lost a lot of wickets but had enough to pull off a 3-wicket victory to gain a 1-0 lead in the series.