JOIN USA match that was pregnant with myriad exciting possibilities turned out to be a damp affair as Australia swatted aside the dangerous Ireland to start their World T20 campaign in commanding fashion a seven-wicket win here at the R Premadasa stadium on Wednesday.
Batting first by choice, Ireland had the worst possible start to their innings, losing their skipper William Porterfield off the very first ball of the match. It was a setback they never recovered from completely. Shane Watson, who accounted for Porterfield with a bouncer, was in the forefront of the Aussie charge, shining both with the bat and the ball.
After helping Australia restrict Ireland to a below par 123/7 with his figures of 3/26, the opener gave a blazing start to the chase with a 30-ball 51 (5x4, 3x6) to effectively kill the contest. Australia replied with 125/3 with 29 deliveries to spare.
A 52-run association between O’Brien brothers, Niall (20) and Kevin (35) notwithstanding, Ireland’s batting couldn’t live up to expectations after losing four wickets with just 33 runs on the board. It was exactly the kind of start Australia would have been looking for in their quest for this one elusive ICC trophy.
Australia have endured a tough build-up to their World T20, losing a three-match series against Pakistan and suffering a nine-run loss at the hands of England in a warm-up game here.
score board
IRELAND
Porterfield c Starc b Watson 0
Stirling c Watson b Starc 7
Joyce c Warner b Maxwell 16
N O’Brien b Watson 20
Wilson lbw Hogg 5
K O’Brien c Wade b Watson 35
Cusack (not out) 15
Johnston b Starc 7
Jones (not out) 14
Extras (LB-3, W-1) 4
Total (for 7 wkts, 20 overs) 123
Fall of wickets: 0-1, 2-15, 3-25, 4-33, 5-85, 6-86, 7-101.
Bowling: Watson 4-0-26-3 (w-1), Starc 4-0-20-2, Cummins 4-0-29-0, Maxwell 2-0-12-1, Christian 2-0-11-0, Hogg 4-0-22-1.
AUSTRALIA
Warner c K O’Brien b Dockrell 26
Watson (run out) 51
M Hussey lbw K O’Brien 10
White (not out) 22
Bailey (not out) 6
Extras (LB-4, W-6) 10
Total (for 3 wkts, 15.1 overs) 125.
Fall of wickets: 1-60 (Warner), 2-91 (Watson), 3-95 (Hussey).
Bowling: Rankin 4-0-28-0, Johnston 2-0-21-0, Cusack 2-0-10-0, Dockrell 3.1-0-31-1, Stirling 1-0-13-0, K O’Brien 3-0-18-1.