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Campher leads successful rescue in Ireland’s nervy start to T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier

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EDINBURGH, Scotland – A quickfire half-century from Curtis Campher helped Ireland Men to victory over Italy in their opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier at Goldenacre today.
After stumbling to 46-3 in the eighth over, Ireland’s innings was bolstered by a 76-run fourth-wicket partnership between Campher and Harry Tector (playing in his 100th international match).

After losing the toss, Ireland was sent in to bat, losing captain Paul Stirling early for 2 and Lorcan Tucker for 8, beaten by an excellent yorker which removed his middle stump.

Italy were very sharp in the field early on, and Cork County’s Stefanos di Bartolomeo (making his Italy debut) almost took a blinder of a catch off an Andrew Balbirnie sweep. While Balbirnie survived the scare he didn’t survive the next ball – clean bowled by Jaspreet Singh for 26.

It was then that Tector and Campher came together. They settled quickly into a nice rhythm, spraying the ball around the ground with ease, posting 76-runs between them. Tector passed 1,000 career T20I runs during his innings of 41 – becoming only the sixth Irishman to do so. When he fell, adjudged LBW to Henry Manenti, Ireland was 122-4 in the 17th over.

Campher brought up his fifty with a reverse scoop shot towards third for a boundary. He was dropped very next ball, but followed it up with a six off the next delivery. However, his luck ran out when he slapped one straight to Anthony Mosca and was walking back to the pavilion for 61 from 39 balls. Several late wickets fell, and Ireland finished on 158-8.

In response Italy found themselves three wickets down at the end of the powerplay, with Mark Adair and Josh Little taking the wickets of Benjamin Manenti and Marcus Campopiano, while Justin Mosca was run out by an excellent throw from George Dockrell in the deep, while attempting a third run.

Ben White then came on and trapped Anthony Mosca LBW in his first over. Despite being four wickets down, Italy were well ahead of Ireland at the midway point of their innings – 74-4 compared to 59-3.

Harry Manenti and Gina-Piero Meade took the game to Ireland and brought up a 50-run partnership in the 12th over, but both were removed in the space of three balls by White and Campher as Italy were reduced to 94-6.

After a good performance with the ball, Jaspreet Singh backed that up with the bat as he tried valiantly to bring Italy close to their target. However, Little removed him in the 17th over with a delivery that ricocheted off his pads and onto the stumps, with Italy 122-7 and Ireland’s bowling attack on top.

Adair came back into the attack and claimed the wickets of Syed Naqvi and Gareth Berg as Italy finished seven runs short of their target, with Adair claiming 3-33.

Ireland will return to action tomorrow morning where they will face Denmark at the Grange Cricket Club, with a 10.30am start (Ireland time).