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World T20 Live - Ireland v Australia

World T20 Live - Ireland v Australia

World T20 Live - Ireland v Australia

IT Wed, Sep 19
 

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  • 10:31
    Good morning and welcome to The Irish Times’ live coverage of the World Twenty20 tournament where Ireland go into action against Australia today in a bid to pull off another giant killing act after their exploits in recent years.

    The news from Colombo is that it’s pretty hot and humid with no place to hide from the elements as the game starts at 3.30pm local time at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

    I’m Emmet Riordan and I’ll be updating you on the game, which gets underway at 11am Irish time. I’ll have news of the toss and the line-ups in a few minutes.
  • 10:33
    Ireland have won the toss and have decided to bat in the heat of the afternoon sun. Certainly they have batted well so far in the warm-ups, but I have a feeling that Ireland skipper William Porterfield would have liked to lose that toss.
  • 10:39
    Nigel Jones has kept his place in the Ireland XI, which means Max Sorensen and Tim Murtagh miss out for the final spot in the team. Jones bowled well in the victory over Bangladesh. Big opportunity for the Civil Service North all-rounder.
  • 10:40
    And here's the two starting XIs
    Ireland: W Porterfield, P Stirling, E Joyce, N O'Brien, +G Wilson, K O'Brien, A Cusack, T Johnston, N Jones, G Dockrell, B Rankin.
    Australia: S Watson, D Warner, M Hussey, C White, *G Bailey, D Christian, G Maxwell, M Wade, B Hogg, M Starc, P Cummins.



  • 10:41
    Ireland will certainly face a tough test first up with the new ball, with Patrick Cummins one of the finest young fast-bowling talents in world cricket.
  • 10:42

    Ireland got a taste of his bowling in the ODI in Belfast during the summer (well it was rained off after 10 overs), but at least there's no Brett Lee to have to deal with.

  • 10:44
    Left-armer Mitchell Starc will also provide a big test and with Ireland having plenty of left-handers in the top order (Porterfield, Joyce, Niall O'Brien) it will be a real test of their ability.
       
  • 10:47
    It's 30 celsius in Colombo, but it feels like 35 celsius because of the humidity. Paul Stirling lost 10lbs in weight in one of the warm-up matches, so getting the fluids in will be vital today. 
  • 10:54
    The teams are coming out for the pre-match ceremony. Crowd is small in the massive canyon that is the Premadasa. And here's Ireland's Call...
  • 10:56
  • 10:56
    Ireland opening batswoman Clare Shillington just spotted during Ireland's Call, scored her first 100 recently, hope it's a good omen for fellow Belfast native Paul Stirling.
  • 10:58
  • 10:59
  • 11:00
  • 11:01
  • 11:01
    Terrible shot by Porterfield and Ireland are 0 for 1. No need to hook the first ball and Shane Watson strikes first up.
  • 11:01
  • 11:02
  • 11:02
    Starc takes the catch and that's the second first-baller the skipper has had against Australia this year after Brett Lee castled him at Stormont.
  • 11:02
  • 11:04
    Stirling nearly caught at mid wicket and then Joyce nearly run out, all happening in the first over
  • 11:05
    That's more like it from Stirling, his trademark drive over extra cover, just lands inside the rope.

    Ireland 4 for 1 off 1
  • 11:05
  • 11:06
    Starc on now and Joyce off the mark with a single.
  • 11:06
  • 11:07
  • 11:07
    Bit of inswing from Starc, well played by Stirling
  • 11:08
  • 11:09
    6 for one off 2 overs and a good first over from Starc, he's controlling the white ball well
  • 11:09
  • 11:10
  • 11:10
    Another change of bowling and Pat Cummins is on. Trial by pace for Ireland.
  • 11:11
    Poor ball from Cummins and Joyce plays it off his legs for 3.
  • 11:12
    Actually given as a boundary, we'll take the extra run. 
  • 11:13
    Joyce playing well of his legs, a good sign early in his innings
  • 11:14
    13 for 1 off 3, consolidating a bit, although there's not much time for that in a T20 game.
  • 11:15
    164 is the average score on this ground batting first in a T20.
  • 11:17
    Big blow as Sirling goes for 7, caught by Watson at third man off Starc while trying to clear the ropes for six.
  • 11:17
  • 11:17
    Ireland 15 for 2 off 3.3, Niall O'Brien in to bat.
  • 11:19
    Australia are covering all of Joyce's drives, they know how dangerous he is after he scored a century for England in Sydney.  
  • 11:20
    16 for 2 off 4 and Ireland need to get a wriggle on.
  • 11:21
    Better from Joyce as he blasts a four past mid on. 
  • 11:21
  • 11:21
  • 11:22
    Joyce taking up the baton here and another boundary, pulled through wide mid-on. 24 for 2
  • 11:23
  • 11:23
    8 runs off the over and Ireland 24 for 2 off 5, with Joyce on 16 and Niall O'Brien yet to get off the mark
  • 11:24
  • 11:24
    Another change of bowling as off-spinner Glenn Maxwell comes on
  • 11:25
  • 11:27

    Joyce goes for 16 as David Warner takes an easy catch at mid-off. Ireland now 25 for 3.

  • 11:27
  • 11:27
  • 11:28
    I wouldn't mind but Ed's brother Dom was a housemate of Warner's while playing in Sydney.
  • 11:28
  • 11:28
  • 11:29
    Very confident start from Gary Wilson with beautiful cover drive for 4. 29 for 3 off 6.
  • 11:29
  • 11:30
  • 11:30
  • 11:31
    Another bowling change and Dan Christian is on.
  • 11:32
    Beats Wilson with a beauty
  • 11:33
  • 11:33
    33 for 3 off 7 and a huge amount of work to do if Ireland are to set any kind of target. Can Kevin O'Brien make another big score?
  • 11:34
    And 41-year-old Brad Hogg is another bowling change. 
  • 11:34
  • 11:35
  • 11:35
  • 11:35
    And he traps Wilson leg-before for 5 and he's gets him with the chinaman
  • 11:35
  • 11:36

    In case you're confused, Hogg is a left-arm leg-spinner. 

  • 11:36
    Ireland 33 for 4 now.
  • 11:36
    And here comes big Kevin O'Brien
  • 11:37
  • 11:38
    The O'Brien brothers are batting together and they need to get their calling right with quick singles.
  • 11:38
    Australia mixing it up again with Watson back on.
  • 11:39
  • 11:41
  • 11:43
    41 for 4 off 9 overs, Ireland will need 10 an over from here on in to set a target.
  • 11:45
    Irish batsmen not picking Hogg's deliveries. A good spell here from the chinaman bowler.
  • 11:46
    Niall O'Brien getting a big stride in and sweeping and it's a good plan.
  • 11:46
  • 11:47
  • 11:47
    46 for 4 off 10 and Ireland will need to go some. then again Kevin O'Brien hit a century of 50 balls in the last World Cup. 
  • 11:47
  • 11:50
    And the slog sweep gets to the boundary from Niall O'Brien, just the fifth boundary of the innings 
  • 11:52
    And back to back boundaries from Kevin, vital runs here from the Railway Union duo. 62 for 4
  • 11:52
  • 11:55
  • 11:55
    Kevin should have been caught and bowled by Christian and follows it up with a four. Kevin now 25 off 19.
  • 11:56
    Partnership of 35 now from the O'Briens
  • 11:57
    Plenty of niggle here and the Aussies are trying to get at big Kev. Look what happened when England tried that.
  • 11:58
  • 11:58
    69 for 4 off 13. Kevin 26, Niall 14
  • 12:00
  • 12:00
    Kevie's loosening the arm, one bounce four.
  • 12:01
  • 12:02
  • 12:02
    Great shot from Kevin, he looks to be motoring now 81 for 4
  • 12:02
  • 12:03
  • 12:04
  • 12:04
    50 partnership up as Niall gets a bit of luck as ball takes wicked bounce over wicket-keeper for four.
  • 12:05
    And Niall is out as Watson gets his second wicket. 20 off 24 balls from the older O'Brien.
  • 12:05
  • 12:05
  • 12:05
    Kevin's the real danger man thoughand he's joined by Alex Cusack, the key pairing in the game against England in Bangalore.
  • 12:06
  • 12:08
    Terrible way to depart for Kevin as he guides a delivery from Watson straight to Wade behind the stumps. Slower ball bouncer does for him and he's gone for 35.
  • 12:08
  • 12:08
  • 12:08
    Watson's such a canny cricketer, using all his tricks from the IPL, three wickets now. Trent Johnston in to bat.
  • 12:09
  • 12:09
    Ireland 86 for 6 off 15, need 40 off the last 5
  • 12:11
  • 12:11
    91 for 6 off 16 and the momentum is gone just now following the departure of the two O'Briens.
  • 12:13
    Cusack lifts Cummins for four, need a few more from the Clontarf all-rounder.
  • 12:14
  • 12:15
    TJ brings up the 100 with a cheeky late cut off Cummins to the boundary
  • 12:15
    101 for 6 off 17 and Ireland need 3 big overs here to give the bowlers a bit of hope.
  • 12:16
  • 12:17
    Sky pictures show the O'Brien brothers in the dug out, along with physio Kieran O'Reilly. If things had been different he would have been in Croke Park on Sunday, as he doubles as the Dublin physion.
  • 12:17
  • 12:17
    WICKET - Starc gets Johnston and it's 101 for 7 with Nigel Jones next in.
  • 12:18
  • 12:18
  • 12:19
  • 12:19
    Starc bowling some great yorkers here and tieing up the Irish batsmen
  • 12:20
    106 for 7 off 18, 2 big, big overs required from Ireland.
  • 12:23
    Only 3 singles from first 5 balls, not enough.
  • 12:24
    Take a 2 off the final ball and Ireland are 111 for 7 with 6 balls to come. Need 20 runs from the last over, but it's Watson, who has 3-14 off 3 so far, to bowl.
  • 12:26
    Jones hits Ireland's first 6 of the innings with 3 balls to go. Another 3 will do Nigel.
  • 12:27
    And that's a wide from Watson.
  • 12:27
    120 for 7
  • 12:27
  • 12:28
    Just a single as Jones fails to pick up slower bounder this time.
  • 12:28
  • 12:28
    Bouncer that was, there's no bounders here.
  • 12:28
  • 12:29
  • 12:29
    2 off the final ball, 12 off the last over and Ireland finish on 123 for 7.
  • 12:29
  • 12:30
  • 12:30
    It should not be enough to win, unless Ireland pull off a brilliant bowling and fielding display.
  • 12:35
  • 12:36
  • 12:36
  • 12:38
  • 12:38
  • 12:41
  • 12:43
    Australia off the mark off Boyd Rankin's third delivery.
  • 12:43
  • 12:44
  • 12:44
  • 12:45
    Warner just over Cusack to the boundary
  • 12:45
    6 for 0 after the first over
  • 12:46
    Umpires getting involved over Gary Wilson's verbals with Watson. Trent Johnston on to bowl.
  • 12:47
    TJ right on the money from the off.
  • 12:48
    One run off his first three deliveries
  • 12:48
  • 12:48
  • 12:50
    9-0 after two, steady start from Watson and Warner
  • 12:50
  • 12:51
    Straky four from Watson, vital that Ireland don't leak easy runs.
  • 12:51
  • 12:52
    And that's a wide from Rankin, not what was needed.
  • 12:52
  • 12:52
    And another one. Has to be more accurate here.
  • 12:54
    And a third wide in the over from Rankin and the camera shows Ireland coach Phil Simmons with a long face. No Surprise.
  • 12:54
    A fourth side and this is a disaster of an over from Rankin, 10 runs so far
  • 12:55
    12 off the overs, 21-0 off 3
  • 12:57
    Warner gets a bit of width from Johnston and crashes it away for four.
  • 12:57
  • 12:58
    Watson pulls for four and this could be all over early if they keep this up.
  • 12:59
    Watson getting going now with his second boundary of the over
  • 12:59
    Slower ball from Johnston stems the flow with a dot ball.
  • 12:59
  • 13:00
  • 13:01
    Watson picks a six off his toes, Brilliant shot and that's 19 runs off the over. Australia 40-0 off 4 overs.
  • 13:01
    Alex Cusack on to bowl.
  • 13:01
    Who starts with wide!
  • 13:01
  • 13:02
  • 13:03
  • 13:04
  • 13:06
    Better over 44-0 off 5, just 4 runs coming off it
  • 13:06
    And Ireland turn to spin and George Dockrell
  • 13:06
    Warner drives his first ball for four
  • 13:07
  • 13:08
  • 13:08
  • 13:09
  • 13:09
    Australia 53 -0 as Dockrell goes for 9 runs off his first over.
  • 13:10
  • 13:13
    Australia 60-0 off 7, Cusack proving Ireland's best bowler so far
  • 13:14
  • 13:14
  • 13:14
    WICKET - Warner goes for 26, caught by Kevin O'Brien off Dockrell, Australia 60-1 off 7.1
  • 13:15
  • 13:15
  • 13:15
    Mike Hussey comes to the wicket, the man they call Mr Cricket
  • 13:17
  • 13:19
    Stirling now bowling off-spin
  • 13:22
  • 13:22
    Misses a caught and bowled attempt off Watson, who makes him pay with a four and a six. 13 off the over and Australia now coasting on 77 for 1 off 9
  • 13:23
  • 13:23
    Watson's winning this match on his own, three wickets and now 50 off 28 balls with a massive six off Dockrell
  • 13:24
    That was into the second tier of the stand, massive shot.
  • 13:24
  • 13:25
  • 13:25
  • 13:26
    Direct hit and Watson was running slow. Gone to TV
  • 13:26
  • 13:27
  • 13:27
    And he's out, great throw from Trent Johnston
  • 13:28
  • 13:28
  • 13:29
    Watson goes for 51 off 30 balls, with 5 fours and 3 sixes
  • 13:29
    Kevin O'Brien now bowling
  • 13:30
    Cameron White is the new basman for Australia, 95-2, needing 29 from 55 balls
  • 13:30
    WICKET - Kevin O'Brien traps Hussey leg-before
  • 13:30
  • 13:31
  • 13:31
    Aus 95-3, he can't do it with the ball this time.
  • 13:32
    Aussie skipper George Bailey in to bat now.
  • 13:32
    And Rankin back into the attack.
  • 13:33
    Bailey is called one short, turning a 3 into a 2
  • 13:34
    Kevin fails to field cleanly and misses potential run-out opportunity
  • 13:35
  • 13:37
    Great attempt from 37-year-old Johnston as he parries ball with right but just can't hang on with his left as he dives forward. Great effort, still giving his all on the pitch.
  • 13:38
  • 13:40
    Aus 103-3 off 13 overs
  • 13:40
  • 13:40
    Need 21 off 42, Ireland need a bunch of wickets
  • 13:41
  • 13:44
    Just 10 needed now from Australia
  • 13:45
    Another four from White and they're just one big hit away from victory
  • 13:46
  • 13:46
    White hits straight down the ground for 2, four needed
  • 13:47
  • 13:48
    Slower ball from O'Brien nearly does for White.
  • 13:48
    Just 3 to win now from 30 balls
  • 13:48
  • 13:49
  • 13:49
    And Dockrell back on and White hits his first delivery to the boundary wo wrap up a a 7 wicket victory with 29 balls to spare.
  • 13:49
  • 13:50
  • 13:51
    Disappointing from Ireland, right from the start when skipper William Porterfield was out hooking. Never made enough in the 6 powerplay overs and despite 50 partnership from the O'Brien brothers, 123 was never going to be enough. Stuck with it in the field, led by Johnston's heroics, but just didn't have enough runs on the board to defend.
  • 13:52
    Ireland still have a chance though and will be hoping that the Aussies can beat the West Indies on Saturday ahead of meeting them next Monday. Two teams go through from each group, so one win may bge enough. Will have to improve on this showing though.
  • 14:05
  • 14:05
  • 14:07
  • 14:15