Colombo: Australia started their campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup with a 67-run win over Ireland in the Group B match here on Wednesday due to the brilliant performance of fast bowler Nathan Ellis (four wickets for 12 runs) and leg spinner Adam Zampa (four wickets for 23 runs).
Ellis set the tone for the win by taking three wickets in his opening spell, he sent the top order to the pavilion, while Zampa wreaked havoc on the middle and lower order, due to which, chasing the target of 183 runs, Ireland’s innings ended at 115 runs for nine wickets in 16.5 overs.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling retired hurt after playing one ball and did not come out to bat again. George Dockrell scored the highest 41 runs for Ireland. Australia, after winning the toss and batting on a slow pitch, scored a competitive score of 182 runs for six wickets with the help of an important partnership of 61 runs for the fifth wicket between all-rounders Marcus Stoinis (45 runs) and Matthew Renshaw (37 runs).
The Irish team lost four wickets in the powerplay while chasing the target. No batsman could face the Australian bowlers and three of these wickets were in the name of Ellis.
Mitchell Marsh is almost out of the tournament due to groin injury. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are also out due to injury, while Mitchell Starc has retired, Ellis performed the responsibility as the main fast bowler very well.
In this way, Ellis took three wickets for nine runs in the initial spell of three overs, he dismissed Ross Adair (12), Curtis Campher (04), Ben Kalitz (02), then Zampa took the wickets of Gareth Delany (11), Lorcan Tucker (24), Dockrell and Mark Adair (12).
Ireland, however, managed to cross the score of 100 runs. Finally Ellis came to bowl his last over and ended the match by dismissing Barry McCarthy (02).
Earlier, Josh Inglis (37) and Cameron Green (21) added runs for Australia in the beginning, after which Renshaw and Stoinis made an important partnership in the middle overs.
Ireland’s spinners bowled disciplined but were disappointed by missing some catches. After dropping the catch of acting captain Travis Head in the first over, Ireland ran him out in the second over.
Inglis and Green played responsibly and took many shots. English started from the boundary towards cover. After hitting another four, he hit his third four in the third over.
Green also hit a long six after hitting a four on Barry McCarthy while hitting shots like his partner. He hit another big six but was caught at midwicket with wrong timing.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling stopped Australia’s run pace by taking a brilliant catch of English. Then Harry Tector dismissed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell, after which Stoinis came to the crease. Then both of them took control of the innings and kept the scoreboard moving forward by rotating the strike well. Ireland maintained pressure in the middle overs.
As Australia tried to increase the run rate, Matthew Humphreys knocked down Renshaw’s stumps in the 17th over. Stoinis was also out in the next over after hitting a six over deep midwicket. Ireland gave 53 runs in the last five overs.