Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa bowled Australia to a dominant 67-run win over Ireland in their first game of the T20 World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday evening.
After electing to bat first, Australia were made to work hard for 182/6 in 20 overs on a slow wicket but four wicket hauls from Ellis and Zampa helped Australia restrict Ireland to 115.
Despite losing Travis Head early, Australia did well in the powerplay, scoring 64 runs in the first six overs. The Australians kept up the scoring rate, gathering 90 runs in 10 overs, but by then big hitters Cameron Green (21), Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis (37) were all back in the pavilion.
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Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis steadied the innings with a 61-run partnership. Even as the Irish spinners slowed the flow of runs, Australia kept the scoreboard ticking with some superb running between the wickets. It took Renshaw 29 balls before he hit his first boundary.
While the left-handed Renshaw scored 37, Stoinis top scored with 45 off 29 balls. Australia accelerated towards the end, through Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett, to push past the 180-mark.
Though Ireland had a decent outing with the ball, their fielding once again let them down, fluffing three chances against the former champions.
Ellis wrecks Irish top order
In response, the Irish chase never really got off the ground. While Ellis’ incredible opening spell wrecked the top order, Zampa quashed the embers of Irish resistance. Ellis began his World Cup with a slower one that beat Ross Adair’s defences then had Curtis Campher caught at mid-wicket. With three for five in his first two overs, Eliis left Ireland reeling at 27 for four. Adam Zampa made sure Australia remained in control of the match, as he claimed four for 23 in his four overs.
Lorcan Tucker (24) and George Dockrell (41) stitched a 46-run sixth-wicket partnership to limit the damage. But it was too little too late, and the Irish challenge ended at 115, with captain Paul Stirling unable to bat again after he was retired hurt for 1.
Brief scores: Australia 182/6 (Josh Inglis 37, Cameroon Green 21, Matt Renshaw 37, Marcus Stoinis 45; Mark Adair 2/44) beat Ireland 115 in 16.5 overs (Lorcan Tucker 24, George Dockrell 41; Nathan Ellis 4/12, Adam Zampa 4/23).
