UAE vs IRE 2026, 2nd T20I: Campher, bowlers star as Ireland sweep UAE 2-0
Ireland (Source: ICC)
Published - 31 Jan 2026, 03:17 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Ireland clean swept UAE 2-0 in the two-match T20I series, emerging victorious by 30 runs in the second T20I on January 31 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Ireland made a shaky start after being inserted to bat as their top order batters got start, but none could capitalise. Paul Stirling walked back for 14, Ross Adair managed only 10, Harry Tector scored 20, while Lorcan Tucker amassed 12, leaving Ireland struggling.
Curtis Campher held the innings together and steadied the ship with a composed unbeaten 41-ball 54, including two fours and sixes each.
For UAE, Junaid Siddique, Haider Ali, and Muhammad Arfan picked up two wickets apiece, with Arfan conceding runs at only 5.80 per over.
Chasing 171, UAE never looked in control, with wicketkeeper-batter Aryansh Sharma waging a lone battle with his 54 off 40 balls, which included six fours and a six. Captain Muhammad Waseem fell for 12, while Muhammad Zohaib scored 14 as their middle-order crumbled under pressure.
Arfan showed some fight through his innings, scoring 26 off 18 balls, but the target never seemed in UAE’s reach as they lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually finished well short at 140 for 8.
Ireland’s bowlers dominated throughout, as Barry McCarthy returned with figures of 2 for 33, Gareth Delany managed 2 for 24, while George Dockrell was the most impressive, registering 2 for 12, keeping UAE under pressure.
Both teams now shift focus to the upcoming T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7. Ireland will start the tournament against co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 8, while UAE will be up against New Zealand on February 10.
