KEY POINTS
- Australia posted 182-6, then dismissed Ireland for 115 in Colombo.
- Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took four wickets each to seal a 67-run win.
- Ireland lost captain Paul Stirling early to injury and never recovered in the chase.
Australia opened their Twenty20 World Cup campaign with a decisive 67-run win over Ireland in Colombo. Australia relied on disciplined bowling and key middle-order runs. The result put them on top of Group B after the first match.
Australia entered the game with a late disruption. Captain Mitchell Marsh pulled out at the last minute. Stand-in skipper Travis Head won the toss and chose to bat on a slow surface. The match took place at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Australia started quickly in the powerplay. Josh Inglis attacked from the outset and scored 37 from 17 balls. Australia collected 64 runs in the first six overs. Ireland removed Head and Cameron Green, but Australia kept momentum early.
Ireland tightened the match through the middle overs. Their bowlers reduced boundaries and forced riskier running. Australia rebuilt through a steady fifth-wicket stand. Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis added 61 runs to restore control.
Renshaw scored 37 and anchored the recovery. Stoinis struck 45 and pushed the total towards a defendable target. Ireland later broke the partnership and added pressure again. Australia still found enough late runs to lift the score.
Ireland’s bowlers produced key moments near the end. Matthew Humphreys bowled Renshaw with a quicker delivery. Mark Adair removed Stoinis later in the innings. Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett finished unbeaten on 11 each. Australia closed on 182-6.
Ireland’s chase collapsed immediately. Captain Paul Stirling hurt himself while running after the first ball. He left the field and could not return to bat. Matthew Kuhnemann then bowled Harry Tector for a duck in the second over.
Ross Adair briefly survived after a dropped chance, but Nathan Ellis struck soon after. Ellis dismissed Adair for 12 and removed Curtis Campher for four. Ellis then bowled Ben Calitz inside the powerplay. Ireland slipped to 27-4 and lost control.
Adam Zampa drove home Australia’s advantage through the middle overs. He claimed four wickets and restricted scoring options. George Dockrell hit 41 from 29 to offer brief resistance, but Ireland could not build partnerships. Australia dismissed Ireland for 115 and completed the win.
