Italy have almost assured themselves of a place in the play-offs of the World Twenty20 Qualifier after a surprise win over hosts UAE in Abu Dhabi today.

Batting first after the UAE won the toss, Italy lost openers Gareth Berg and Andy Northcote early on, but recovered with a third wicket partnership of 67 between captain Damian Crowley and Peter Pretricola, which ended when Petricola was out for 38.

Crowley went on to score 59 before he was run out, putting on fifty for the fourth wicket with Carl Sandri, who scored an unbeaten 30 to take Italy to a total of 158-8 from their 20 overs.

The UAE then had a terrible start to their run chase, with Gayashan Munasinghe taking three wickets in his first two overs to leave the hosts reeling on 6-3. Khurram Khan was next out in the fourth over with the score on 14, and the UAE never recovered from there.

The Italians didn't let the UAE pick up the scoring rate, and they were only on 64 when the sixth wicket fell in the 12th over. Berg took two wickets in the next over, and the UAE were eventually bowled out for 91, losing by 67 runs.

Whilst the win doesn't quite secure Italy's place in the play-offs, it puts them in a very good position. They're through if they beat the already eliminated Canadians tomorrow, with a defeat leaving Uganda and the USA needing a big win to overcome the Italians net run rate.

The UAE currently lie in third place, and will hope for a win over USA (or for other results to go their way) tomorrow so that they can stay there and give themselves the theoretically easier route through the play-offs that comes with that third place finish.