Australia 125-3 after 15.1 overs
White 22*, Bailey 6*
Cameron White gets impatient and decides to smack three fours in six balls that he faced since the 14th over. That’s enough to take Australia to the target and get them going at the World T20. Shane Watson surely the pick of the performers— scoring 51 runs and taking 3/26 with the ball.
Australia 95-3 after 11 overs
Mike Hussey lbw b KJ O’Brien 10 (11b, 0×4, 0×6)
O’Brien strikes to dismiss Hussey. The Australians probably getting a wee bit careless in their run-chase. Huge appeal from O’Brien followed by some thinking and the nod from the umpire.
Australia 91-2 after 10.1 overs
Shane Watson run out Johnston 51 (30b, 5×4, 3×6)
Silly run out because Watson could easily have seen the innings through. He caresses the ball to third-man and is a tad slow as the direct hit from Johnston does him. But what an innings and what a match he’s had… five fours and three big ones took him to his fifty. Add to that the wickets he took.
Australia 60-1 after 7.1 overs
David Warner c KJ O’Brien b Dockrell 26 (23b, 4×4, 0×6)
It was a good shot actually, but one of those occasions when they go straight to the fielder— this time to mid-wicket after Warner had timed it well towards the on side.
Australia 21-0 after 3 overs
Watson 10, Warner 5
No early breakthrough for Ireland. In fact, both Watson and Warner have scored a four each— the former pulling it away past square-leg and the latter diverting it towards the empty fine-leg region.
AUSTRALIA OUT TO BAT
Ireland 123-7 after 20 overs
Cusack 15, Jones 14
Some good running and a six off the bat of Jones takes Ireland to 123-7. Considering they were reeling at 33-4, it is a fair effort but Australia should still win this one easily.
Ireland 101-7 after 17.1 overs
Trent Johnston b Starc 7 (7b, 1×4, 0×6)
Perfect yorker from Starc. That’s one of those weapons in his armoury and does the job for him. Johnston looks for some space, misses and is bowled.
Ireland 86-6 after 15 overs
Niall O’Brien b Watson 20 (24b, 2×4, 0×6)
Kevin O’Brien c Wade b Watson 35 (29b, 5×4, 0×6)
And suddenly they’re both gone! The O’Briens were leading Ireland’s fightback but Watson has broken the partnership from both ends, first misleading Niall with a slow and fuller delivery and then forcing the edge from Kevin. Sorted!
Ireland 62-4 after 12 overs
N O’Brian 14, K O’Brien 19
The brothers are doing brilliantly after what happened to the rest of the batsmen. These two are well-known in the cricket circuit and this partnership could be another example of that. They’re running a lot between the wickets but have scored four boundaries between the two of them already.
Hogg celebrates a wicket with his team. AP
Ireland 33-4 after 7.2 overs
Gary Wilson lbw b Hogg 5 (5b, 1×4, 0×6)
Brad Hogg, the veteran leggie, takes no time in making his selection count. His delivery straightened a bit and hit Wilson flush on the pads. No doubt about the LBW it seems.
Ireland 25-3 after 5.5 overs
EC Joyce c Warner b Maxwell 16 (18b, 3×4, 0×6)
Another one falls and Ireland don’t have an answer to Australia’s disciplined bowling. Joyce looked like he settling into his innings when he decided to go for the big one and can’t even clear mid-off.
Ireland 15-2 after 3.3 overs
Paul Stirling c Watson b Starc 7 (12b, 1×4, 0×6)
That could have gone for six on another day, but Stirling just flays his arms on the offside for Watson to take a running catch. Ireland are in trouble already.
Ireland 6-1 after 2 overs
Joyce 1, Stirling 5
Brilliant over from Starc… mixing up the line and length and giving away just a couple of runs in the process. Ireland need these two batsmen to stick for a few overs.
Ireland 0-1 after 0.1 overs
William Porterfield c Starc 0 b Watson (1)
That’s the worst start one would want. Porterfield tries to hook a short delivery and skies it straight to long leg.
Ireland have won the toss and will bat first.
Very interesting fixture this one. The Irish were shortly ranked above the Aussies some time back and that is just a sign of how competitive this match could be. A good county and international mixture of experience gives them a balanced side and it certainly won’t be a cakewalk for Australia.
There are quite a few players to keep an eye on today. Mitchell Starc has been impressive and so has Pat Cummins at times. For Ireland, the O’Brien’s can be a handful.
Australia: Shane Watson, David Warner, Mike Hussey, George Bailey, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Brad Hogg, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc.
Ireland: William Porterfield, Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O’Brien, Gary Wilson, Kevin O’Brien, Alex Cusack, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin
