BRISBANE, Australia — Australia got their
Twenty20 World Cup defense back on track with a
42-run win over Ireland at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.
اضافة اعلان
Ireland, chasing
Australia’s 179–5, were all out for 137 in the 19th over to put Australia level
on five points with leaders New Zealand, who have a game in hand, at the top of
Group 1.
England, who
play New Zealand on Tuesday, are third, two points behind Australia, but with a
superior net run rate, a factor that could become crucial in a tight group.
Ireland, also on
three points, had outside hopes of reaching the semifinals before the match but
they were blown away in the chase by the pace and inswing of Mitchell Starc and
then by the scoreboard pressure of their 180-run target.
They slumped to
25–5 and handed the World Cup hosts a comfortable win despite a superb unbeaten
71 from Lorcan Tucker.
Australia captain
Aaron Finch, who won the man of
the match award for his 63 runs, said scoring had not been straightforward.
“It wasn’t the
easiest wicket, it was a lot slower than what we expected,” Finch said.
“They changed
their pace really well and bowled a lot of cutters early in the innings.
It was hard to
get a rhythm and we did well to get 179.”
Earlier Finch
had stormed back into form with his 44-ball knock which contained five fours
and three sixes, answering critics who had called for him to be dropped after a
poor run with the bat.
Finch denied he
had been affected by all the chatter. “Nah, not feeling the pressure at all to
be honest”, Finch said.
“The support
from the change room and support staff has been incredible. T20 is a high
risk-game, sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t.”
He stayed
patient, playing the anchor role as Australia lost their first three wickets to
tight Irish bowling.
Ireland ‘making progress’
His circumspect approach paid off and Finch profited after the Ireland
attack began to falter under the pressure of an onslaught from Marcus Stoinis,
who blasted 35 off 25 balls.
Ireland started their
run chase briskly but suffered a big blow when captain Andy Balbirnie was
bowled by Pat Cummins for six off the last ball of the second over.
He was followed
almost immediately by the dangerous Paul Stirling, who was caught at mid-off by
Cummins from part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell for 11.
Maxwell then had
Harry Tector caught at square leg with Ireland on 24 and the game was as good
as over one run later when Starc clean bowled Curtis Campher for a duck.
Starc was
bowling with real pace and he struck again with another beautiful inswinger to
account for
George Dockrell, leaving Ireland reeling at 25–5.
Tucker and
Gareth Delany led a slight recovery until Delany skied to Maxwell trying to
belt Stoinis for six.
Tucker, who had
come in at number three, played a lone hand, amassing his 71 from 48 deliveries
until he ran out of partners.
“We’re making
progress to keep up with these big teams — looking at the scoreboard we thought
it wasn’t against us,” captain Balbirnie said.
“Again the wickets
column was a problem and who knows if someone had stayed with Tucker.”
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