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It was all over before lunch at Hamilton Crescent on Monday, where Ireland bowled Italy out for 79 and then knocked off the runs in 12.2 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Italy won the toss and elected to bat, and were helped in the early stages of the innings by some wild bowling and indifferent catching from the Irish. But Boyd Rankin induced skipper Alessandro Bonora into clipping a low catch to David Langford-Smith at square leg in the eighth over, while at the other end Kelum Perera was trapped leg before by Paul Mooney. Rankin struck again three overs later to reduce Italy to 48 for three.

Kyle McCallan now introduced David Langford-Smith and John Mooney into the attack, and the former had Nicola Puccio caught behind by Niall O’Brien off his third ball. From now on runs were at a premium for Italy, and once Langford-Smith had removed Valerio Zuppiroli – the second of O’Brien’s six catches behind the wicket – the scoring stopped almost completely.

Four consecutive wicket-maidens took the score from 60 for four to 60 for eight, with Langord-Smith taking three for 7 in five overs before he was surprisingly relieved by McCallan. At the other end Mooney continued a parsimonious spell, conceding just 5 runs from nine overs with three wickets. A last-wicket partnership between Troy Crosland and Francesco Scarponi held Ireland up briefly and added 17 to the total, but eventually Paul Mooney came back to give O’Brien his sixth catch and the innings closed in 32.4 overs.

Italy had some initial success with the ball, removing both openers by the time the total had reached 35, but brothers Niall and Kevin O’Brien took their side to the brink of victory, Kevin belting 17 off twelve balls and Niall remaining not out on 28. The scheduled lunch interval arrived with 15 more needed, but the players and umpires sensibly agreed to remain on the field, and although Kevin O’Brien was well caught by Perera at the beginning of Bonora's next over, it took just seven more balls to see Ireland to their target.

Niall O’Brien won the Man of the Match award for his six catches (a wicketkeeping record for the First Division) and unbeaten innings.

Ireland now face The Netherlands at Ayr on Tuesday in a One-Day International that will also decide whether they are outright winners of the Championship.