Ireland narrowly avoided an upset against an under-strength Italy side to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup on track in Edinburgh today (July 21).
The Full Member side have had a tough time on the field in recent weeks, having failed to make it to the Super Sixes stage of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier after defeats by Oman, Scotland and Sri Lanka.
The T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier offers them a chance to get back on the right path, with two teams progressing from the event to next year’s global tournament. England and Netherlands have already confirmed their places at the 2024 T20 World Cup by virtue of their performances at the 2022 event, with Scotland, Austria, Jersey, Italy, Denmark and Germany the other teams in the event.
Italy’s cricketing pedigree is limited, and they have never qualified for any World Cup event. However, they named a strong squad for the qualifying competition, including county cricketers Gareth Berg, Grant Stewart and Wayne Madsen, and Big Bash League cricketer Ben Manenti.
With Stewart and Madsen only joining up with their compatriots at the end of the ongoing round of County Championship fixtures, Ireland would have been confident of victory. But they were given a scare by Italy, who eventually fell short by seven runs.
Ireland were dealt two early blows, with captain Paul Stirling and No.3 Lorcan Tucker each falling early as Italy kept their opponents to 29-2 in the first five overs.
Harry Tector (41 off 31) and Curtis Campher (61 off 39) helped Ireland recover, but a total of 158-8 looked far from imposing. Gareth Berg, who plies his trade for Northamptonshire in county cricket, was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-24 in his four overs.
The 42-year-old was also the joint top scorer in the chase as Italy came within a couple of blows of a shock victory. They also lost two wickets early, Mark Adair bowling Ben Manenti at the end of the first over and Justin Mosca run out in the second, but a string of starts from the middle order kept them in the hunt.
All of Nos.3-7 made between 16 and 26, but Ireland kept their noses in front, and Italy went into the final over needing 20 to win. Halfway through the over, they were halfway there, Berg having hit two fours and a two. However, he fell next ball to all but end Italy’s hopes, and they finished on 151-9.
Opening pair Mark Adair and Josh Little shared five wickets between them, while leg-spinner Ben White was the most economical Ireland bowler on show, claiming 2-22.
Ireland are next in action tomorrow, against Denmark.
