Series Win
Ireland Men wrap up series 2-0 over UAE


DUBAI, UAE – In Game Two of this two-match T20I series, Ireland put in another comprehensive performance to close out their UAE warm up tour before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month.
After being put into bat by the home side, Ross Adair started explosively with back-to-back boundaries off Siddique. However, the opener was then dismissed from the final delivery of the opening over with a bouncer that rose sharply and caught Adair’s glove for a catch behind.
Paul Stirling continued exactly where his partner left off until he was bowled by Muhammad Arfan in the fifth over. But the further wicket of Harry Tector by left arm spinner Haider Ali slowed down Ireland’s progress in the first six overs.
Outside of the powerplay, the visitors lost Lorcan Tucker, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany and George Dockrell with the pitch turning slightly more than it had in Game One on Thursday.
Curtis Campher and Mark Adair then combined to put on a partnership of 69 for the eighth wicket to give Ireland a very competitive total at the Dubai International Stadium. The pairing saw some typically crisp hitting from Adair, but also exceptional shot placement around the ground by Campher (54 off 41) who scored his third half-century in T20I cricket.
It was Barry McCarthy who got Ireland their first wicket in the fourth over when he dismissed the dangerous Muhammad Waseem leg before wicket. But the visitors then had to wait until the 9th over for the next when Gareth Delany had Zohaib caught by Campher at long off.
Matthew Humphreys struck next with a smart stumping by Lorcan Tucker who went on to complete two more stumpings off George Dockrell’s bowling. Delany also removed Harshit Kaushik with a wicket identical to his first.
Two further wickets came from Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy as Ireland were able to comfortably close out the match and comprehensively claim the series win during the UAE-leg of their world cup preparation. Today’s Player of the Match was Curtis Campher (54*, 0-12, 2 catches).
The playing group now travel to Sri Lanka, with their first game taking place on 08 February 2026 against the tournament co-hosts in Group B.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Men v UAE Men, 2nd T20I, Dubai, 31 January 2026
IRELAND 170-7 (20 overs; C Campher 54*, M Adair 34*; H Ali 2-30
UAE 140-8 (20 overs; A Sharma 54; G Dockrell 2-12, G Delany 2-24)
Ireland won by 30 runs
Ireland Men wrap up series 2-0 over UAE

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