Australia begin ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with dominant victory over Ireland
Australia began their World Cup campaign with a dominant 67-run win over Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
After electing to bat first, Australia were made to work hard for 182/6 in 20 overs on a slow wicket. Four-wicket hauls from Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa helped Australia restrict Ireland to 115.
Despite losing Travis Head early, Australia did well in powerplay, scoring 64 runs in the first six overs. The Aussies 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.
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 is 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.
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 3/5 in his first two overs, Eliis left Ireland reeling at 27/4. Adam Zampa made sure Australia remained in control of the match, as he claimed 4/23 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.