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Ireland vs United Arab Emirates 2nd T20I Full Commentary
Result · Jan 31 2026, Sat - 11:30 AM (IST)
UAE 140/8 (20.0)
IRE 170/7 (20.0)
Ireland beat United Arab Emirates by 30 runs
CRR:7.00
प्लेयर ऑफ द मैच
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Welcome back for the run chase. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Muhammad Waseem and Aryansh Sharma open up for United Arab Emirates. Mark Adair has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
171 the magic number for the hosts - Runs on the board is always a positive in this format and in a day game like this, Ireland’s spinners are going to be key, just as the UAE tweakers caused plenty of trouble in the first innings. The pitch is dry, offering enough grip and turn for players like Haider Ali and Parashar to trouble the batters. For Ireland, their spin trio will need to control the game with smart variations. It’s a familiar target for the hosts. They were chasing 179 in the opening T20I but fell short. This time, they need 171 to level the series. A solid start from Muhammad Waseem will be crucial, and the middle order will have to step up if Ireland want to stay in the hunt. Back in a bit with the chase. Stay tuned.
A timely resurrection - But in T20 cricket, even if you don't get a good start, if there's one set batter till the end, a team can always get a good finish. For Ireland, it was Curtis Campher's breezy knock and a fantastic cameo from Mark Adair as well in their alliance of an unbeaten 69 runs. They picked the right moment to accelerate and it was that 17th over that went for 13 runs, followed by a 20-run 18th over that spoiled all the good work done by the UAE bowlers as Ireland managed to post 170 on the board.
The control through the middle phase - UAE dazzled with pinpoint bowling and lightning-fast fielding. They threw themselves into every chance and snatched every catch with flair. Ireland desperately needed a steady partnership, but Curtis Campher remained stranded on one as wickets tumbled around him. The slide showed no mercy, with the tourists soon reeling at 101 for 7. In a stranglehold that left Ireland gasping for momentum, they managed just 56 runs across a punishing 7-15 over stretch.
An early stranglehold by UAE - Ireland's start was not that promising as they lost Adair in the very first over. Stirling and Tector tried to patch things up with a brief partnership, but the UAE bowlers kept them on a tight leash. They dominated the Powerplay phase, reducing Ireland to 46/3 in the sixth over. Once Stirling and Tector were removed, Ireland were pushed back for a rebuild. Muhammad Arfan bowled with extreme control, continuing to impress like he did in the first match. To their credit though, every UAE bowler struck just when Ireland looked to build a steady partnership, which never allowed them the required momentum. With the cream of their batting dismissed around the halfway mark, Ireland were under serious pressure with just 94/5 on the board.
A strong finish by Ireland - After 15 overs, the tourists were crawling their way, scoring just above run-a-ball and with 105/7 on the board. UAE showed much more improvement this time around through the middle overs, but they yet again failed to control the flow of runs in the death phase. A concerning pattern that has recurred time and again, which needs serious attention before the big tournament. There's a saying that it does not matter how you start, what matters is the way you finish. The hosts were in control for the maximum part, but Ireland landed the telling blow in the end, smashing 65 runs in the last 5 overs.
Short, on off, Mark Adair pulls it over mid-wicket for a brace. Ireland end their innings at 170/7!
A high full toss, on off, Curtis Campher shuffles across to his left and tries to scoop it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the batters collect a bye. No ball called for height. Free hit to follow...
Short, on middle and leg, Mark Adair pulls it over square leg for one more.
Hard length, down leg, Curtis Campher looks to pull it but miscues it to the leg side. They scamper across for a single.
On a length, outside off, Mark Adair pushes it to wide of mid off for a run.
SIX! That's a massive hit! On a length, just outside off, Mark Adair stays in his crease and launches it over long off for a biggie. The score goes over 160 now.
Keeps it full, outside off, Curtis Campher flicks it through wide of mid on for a single.
A yorker, on off, Curtis Campher taps it back to the bowler and runs for a single. Junaid Siddique runs forward and tries to kick the ball at the batter's end but misses.
Short, outside off, Curtis Campher tries to reverse scoop it but misses.
Short, on off, Mark Adair punches it to cover for a single.
Back of a length, outside of, Curtis Campher looks to slap it but gets a bottom edge. The ball rolls towards fine leg for a single.
A full toss, outside off, Curtis Campher chips it over mid off for a brace. 50 UP FOR CAMPHER! Off just 35 balls. His 4th T20I half century. He has stepped up when his side needed him the most and has accelerated at the perfect time for his side.
Wide! Way outside off, Curtis Campher moves to his right but leaves. Umpire calls it a wide. Free hit to continue.
Slips in a wild, high full toss, above waist height on off. Curtis goes for an uppercut towards deep backward point. The fielder snares it near the fence, but the umpire signals a No Ball, and the batters scamper for two runs. The on-field officials pause to check if the fielder had touched the boundary with the ball in hand. After a couple of replays, it’s confirmed that his feet were safely inside the playing area, so it’s not a six. 150 up for Ireland! A free hit is coming up next.
Wide! Width, way outside off, Curtis Campher leaves it alone. Wided.
Just short! Length, outside off, Mark Adair swings hard but gets an outside edge. The ball lobs and lands just short of Haider Ali at short third. They collect a single.
Nice and full, on off, Mark Adair knocks it down to long on for a single.
SIX MORE! Back to back sixes from Mark Adair. On a length, on off, Mark Adair stays in his crease and plunders it over long on for yet another six.
SIX! All the way! Slower one, on middle and leg, Mark Adair stays in his crease and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Runs are coming along for Ireland.
Much fuller, on leg, Mark Adair flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace. Excellent running between the wickets.
Down the leg side, Curtis Campher looks to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and rolls towards square leg. They collect a leg bye.
FOUR! Nicely played! On a length, on middle, Curtis Campher moves to his left and reverse ramps it over short third for a magnificent boundary.
Flatter, on leg, Curtis Campher knocks it down the ground for a run.
Irish Triumph - That wraps up this game and the series as well, with Ireland sealing it in style. Captain Paul Stirling has been handed the trophy and poses for pictures with his triumphant squad as the focus now shifts to the T20 World Cup, just a week away. United Arab Emirates will face Nepal in their warm-up game on Tuesday, 3rd February, while Ireland get ready to take on Pakistan on 4th February, Wednesday. But the cricket keeps coming, with a blockbuster Saturday lined up: Pakistan vs Australia in the 2nd T20I, India vs New Zealand in the 5th T20I, and South Africa vs West Indies in the 3rd T20I. Simply switch tabs and enjoy every moment of the action. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!
Curtis Campher (54 off 41) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH - He says that they bat really deep and it was all about trusting his game and his partners. Adds that he is happy that it came off in this game. Says that the ball was holding up a bit, but they managed to optimise their scoring options and put the loose balls away.
The victorious skipper of Ireland - Paul Stirling says that it was an action replay from their previous encounter, and their side showed resilience. He acknowledges that despite a potential collapse toward a total of 120, an incredible ninth-wicket partnership kept them competitive under pressure. Stirling says they need continuous improvement and the necessity of adapting their playstyle to specific Sri Lankan conditions. He remains positive about the overall success of the tour.
The captain of United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says that it was a tough series for them and they need to work on their death bowling as they were in a good position till the 14-15 overs. Adds that we need to work on a couple of things as there are 10 more days for the World Cup and hopefully they can do better.
Presentation Time...
Spinners Do the Damage - It was a clinical bowling display from Ireland. Barry McCarthy set the tone early with a wicket, even though they went for a few in the first six overs. Once the fielding restrictions were lifted, the spinners took control of the middle overs and gave nothing away. George Dockrell was the pick of the bowlers with 2/12 from his three overs, including the big wicket of Sharma, while Delany also claimed a couple of key scalps, and Adair and Humphreys chipped in with one each to complete a dominant performance.
Late Push for Ireland - Earlier in the game, Ireland looked in real trouble at 101/7 in the 14th over, but Curtis Campher's outstanding half-century, backed by Mark Adair's rapid 34 off just 21 balls, completely flipped the script. The pair added 69 crucial runs, turning a shaky position into a competitive total that gave Ireland's bowlers plenty to work with. UAE will feel they let a golden opportunity slip after a brilliant start with the ball, conceding 65 runs in the final five overs. Still, there were positives to take, with Junaid Siddique, Haider Ali, and Muhammad Arfan all picking up two wickets apiece, while Muhammad Jawadullah chipped in with one, even if he went for a few.
Sharma Fights a Lone Battle - UAE made a strong start despite losing skipper Muhammad Waseem early, with Aryansh Sharma leading the charge as they raced to 55 in the Powerplay and looked well placed in the chase. Sharma kept the runs flowing from one end, but the big issue was the steady fall of wickets at the other, which meant he could never build a truly impactful partnership. He went on to register a fluent half-century but, under mounting scoreboard pressure, fell for 54 off 40. After that, it became a procession, and even a late brisk cameo from Muhammad Arfan was never going to take them close to Ireland's total.
Irish Statement - A professional performance from Ireland, in fact across both games, sees them seal the series 2-0 and send out a clear message that they will be no pushovers in the upcoming T20 World Cup. United Arab Emirates showed flashes of their potential in both matches, but they will need a much stronger collective effort and plenty of soul-searching ahead of the big event.
Barry McCarthy lands this short of a length and on middle, Muhammad Arfan miscues his pull off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for just one. IRELAND WIN BY 30 RUNS!
Barry McCarthy bowls a good yorker, on middle, Muhammad Arfan jams it out to deep square leg for a couple of runs. Arfan moves to 25, his highest T20I score.
FOUR! Streaky! Slower one, good length and outside off. Muhammad Arfan throws his hands at it. Gets a top edge that flies over backward point for a boundary.
Nails the wide yorker, outside off, Muhammad Arfan fails to dig it out.
Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Junaid Siddique looks to pull it away but misses. Lorcan Tucker fails to gather it cleanly as the ball goes on the bounce to him and the batters steal a bye.
A low full toss, on middle, Muhammad Arfan swipes it to deep square leg for a single.
Can Ireland bowl UAE out in the final over?
Touch fuller and on off, Junaid Siddique swings but misses.
Hard length and on middle, Muhammad Arfan uses his feet to push it away but gets a top edge wide of short third. The fielder does well to stop it as the ball spins away from him. They cross.
FOUR! Gets it away! Pitched up but angling into the leg side. Muhammad Arfan shuffles in his crease, picks it off his pads and helps it past short fine for a boundary now. He is making a case to be pushed up the order in the next games.
SIX! That's a clean strike! Fuller delivery and around off. Muhammad Arfan skips down the track, stays leg side of the ball and lofts it with a straight bat over the long off fence for a biggie.
WIDE! Tries the wide yorker, but a bit too outside off, Muhammad Arfan backs away and leaves it alone. Called a wide.
Swing and a miss! Good length and on off, takes pace off, Muhammad Arfan has a wild swing across the line but only connects with thin air.
Good work in the deep! Fuller and on middle, Muhammad Arfan goes low and heaves it off the inside half of the bat wide of deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs to his left and dives to make the stop. Two taken.
A full toss, on off, Muhammad Arfan hoicks it off the inner half of the bat towards long on for one.
Short of a length and outside off, takes pace off, Junaid Siddique stabs it out to extra cover for a run.
Good comeback! Barry McCarthy nails the yorker, angling into leg, Junaid Siddique has a big swing across the line but misses.
EDGED AND FOUR! Back of a length and around off, Junaid Siddique makes room and has a tentative push at it. Gets a thin outside edge wide of the keeper and to the third man fence for a boundary.
Into the tail now. Junaid Siddique comes out to the middle now.
OUT! BOWLED'EM! Right through the defense. Barry McCarthy comes over the wicket, lands this on a hard length and on middle and leg, skids through a bit. Haider Ali backs away and tries to play at it but misses it completely as the ball goes through to rattle into the middle and leg stumps. Ireland just 2 wickets away from the win now.
Fuller and around off, Muhammad Arfan crouches low and drags his slog towards deep square leg for a single.