Ireland made heavy weather of winning their fifth match against Italy. All five were limited overs matches and came between 1996 and 2008. Italy won the toss and batted. Ireland failed to bowl them out, taking only six wickets. However, Italy never threatened a big score. After 40 overs they were only 113, but had only three wickets down. The last 10 overs saw three more wickets fall but only 45 more runs scored. Only one batsman reached 30.

In reply Ireland won in the 37th over but lost six wickets in so doing. At one point, in over 15, the score was 75-4. Only Stirling played a long innings, 56 not out from 79 balls. It was his second 50 for Ireland in his 17th innings, the first having come in his fourth innings. Ireland made three changes from the match against the Netherlands on the previous day. Botha, Connell and Niall O'Brien were replaced by Fourie, Stirling and Poynter. These changes seemed to weaken the Irish bowling. It was Poynter's debut in this competition. The day was warm but not as sunny as the previous day.

Andy Northcote, who had played for Pembroke C.C. in Dublin, started for Italy with Thushara, a left-hander. Northcote hit Fourie's second ball for four to extra cover and Thushara played a maiden to Kevin O'Brien. In O'Brien's second over Thushara pulled two fours. In over seven, bowled by Fourie, Thushara pulled another four between fielders behind the wicket. For the eighth over Cusack replaced O'Brien. An LBW appeal against Northcote was turned down on his first ball but such an appeal was successful on the second ball. 24-1-9. Bonora was next. A few runs were added. O'Brien had changed ends at once and a powerplay was called for over 11. To O'Brien's fifth ball Thushara walked in front and was LBW. 32-2-16. The left-handed Petricola was next. He and Bonora survived for nine overs and put on 22 runs, mostly in singles. Another powerplay was called at over 16 with the score on 41-2. Fourie replaced O'Brien for over 17 and his second over, the 19th, was a maiden to Bonora.

Cusack's seventh over was the 20th. Petricola hit the first two balls which were short for fours to bring up the 50. The final ball had Petricola caught at the wicket. 54-3-18. Scuderi was number five. Born in Italy he grew up in Australia and played a lot of cricket for South Australia. He had now returned to Italy to coach and captain the team. His partnership with Bonora was easily the best of the innings in both runs, 60, and in overs, just over 20. McCallan and Kidd were now the bowlers and they bowled 16 overs together. Kidd's first ball went for four wides and McCallan's second over was a maiden to Bonora. The 25 overs score was 63-3. Then Scuderi snicked a four off Kidd in over 26 and Bonora late cut McCallan for four in over 27. In the next 10 overs nothing more than singles were scoref. The 30 overs score was 78-3.

In over 34, bowled by Kidd, Scuderi offered Fourie a difficult chance diving to his right at short mid-wicket. Scuderi was 13 at the time and the score at 85-3. White replaced Kidd for over 38. Bonora late cut a four to bring up 100 in this over. The 39th over was McCallan's 10th. Bonora hit White for another four in over 40, at the end of which the score was 113. Kidd, who had bowled eight overs, replaced McCallan. His third ball had Bonora caught at extra cover. 114-4-31. Bonora had been in for 95 balls but had only scored three fours. Jayasena, a left-hander, was number six. The stand with Scuderi was brief. In over 42, bowled by White, Scuderi hit a four but, two balls later, he was run out. Jayasena was the striker but Scuderi seemed to take off from the non-striker's end on a foolish run when the ball was hit close on the leg side. He was sent back but could not beat Porterfield's throw to the bowler's end. 120-5-29. Nicholas Northcote joined Jayasena who hit the last ball of the 42nd over to wide long-on for four.

Fourie returned for over 44 and O'Brien for over 45. The scoring was all in singles except Jayasena hit a three off Fourie in over 46. Cusack replaced Fourie for over 48. The 49th over was O'Brien's last. Jayasena hit a towering shot to wide long-on which Kidd could not cling on to. It brought up 150. It is the least expensive possible miss. Next ball Jayasena was caught at cover. 153-6-23. Perera was next with seven balls remaining. No more wickets fell but Perera had to retire hurt off the fifth ball of the last over. He had edged Cusack into his face. Munasinghe came in and hit the last ball for two.

Ireland used six bowlers with O'Brien, McCallan and Kidd all bowling 10 each. Every one of the six conceded between 20 and 28 runs. O'Brien and Cusack had two wickets each and Kidd one. Ireland bowled their 50 overs in only 160 minutes. So quick where they that in fact the Irish reply started before lunch. Porterfield and Wilson set off with a half an hour to bat before lunch. Alaud was right arm fast medium for Italy and Munasinghe took a 22 yard run but did not live up to appearances. In the first four overs Porterfield hit two fours and Wilson one. Munasinghe was only given two overs and then Petricola was given one in which Porterfield hit his third four. Andy Northcote, offspin, bowled the eighth over and the last before lunch. To his first ball Porterfield was LBW. 40-1-21. Stirling got off the mark and Wilson hit a four in the remainder of this over. The score at lunch was 46-1 in eight overs, Wilson 22 and Stirling one.

Wilson hit a four and two off the medium paced Petricola to bring up 50 in the first over after lunch. He later cut Northcote for a four in the second and was out two balls later. He drove at Northcote and was caught at the wicket by the bowler's brother. 58-2-32 Cusack arrived and played 14 balls in a 19 balls stand of 11. He leg-glanced a four off Petricola in over 11. Two overs later he nibbled at the same bowler and was caught by Scuderi at second slip. 69-3-7. Strydom's stay was very brief. He played the last ball of the 13th over and five more in the 15th, all without scoring. The last ball of over 15 had him LBW to Petricola, a decision which sometimes might have gone in his favour. 75-4-0.

Poynter came to join Stirling. This became a stand of 60 in 80 balls and put Ireland within 14 runs of victory. Italy called a powerplay for over 16 and in over 17 Stirling hit Petricola for four to extra cover. In over 20 Stirling advanced to Northcote and hit a four in the air to long off. The score after 20 overs was 97 and 100 was up in over 21. Munasinghe returned for over 23 in place of Petricola who had done well. Jayasena, a legspinner, came on for over 24. Stirling hit his first three balls for two's but there were chances to mid-on and point which did not go to hand.

Poynter hit his only four in over 25, a drive to extra cover. The score after 25 overs was 119. This score was advanced to 133 by the time the 29th over started, bowled by Munasinghe. Poynter pushed out at the second ball and was bowled. 135-5-20. Poynter had batted for 43 balls and scored one four. White came in at number seven with 1997 runs to his name. He got a two in over 30 after which the score was 138. Two overs later a single off Jayasena took White to 2000 runs for Ireland in his 109th match and 97 innings. He was the 16th Irish player to that mark. In the same over as White's landmark Stirling went to 50 in 64 balls and containing four fours. It was his 17th innings and his second 50, the first having come in his fourth innings.

In the 34th over, bowled by Jayasena, Stirling had an escape at mid-wicket. It was a poor shot and the ball skied in the air but the fielder running back could not catch it. Bonora, slow medium, bowled over 35. White was LBW to the last ball. 153-6-11. Kevin O'Brien came in with six balls required and these came in 11 deliveries. O'Brien's two to mid-wicket was the winning shot.

Italy used six bowlers but none bowled 10 overs. Petricola and Andy Northcote had two wickets each and looked the best of the six.