8th over: Ireland 47-5 (Tucker 12, Dockrell 2) Connolly twirls and whirls through another over, just four runs off it. Nowhere near enough for Ireland.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: Ireland 43-5 (Tucker 10, Dockrell 0) George Dockrell joins Tucker and Zampa finishes the over with a dot. Ireland need eleven an over from here and only have four wickets left with Stirling hamstrung.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Gareth Delany c Inglis b Zampa 11 (Ireland 43-5)<\/p>\n Adam Zampa into the attack. He\u2019ll be a handful on this surface. Sure enough there\u2019s an lbw call against Tucker right away but the review shows it hit the batter outside the line of off stump and umpire Richard Illingworth can stay with his original decision.<\/p>\n Gone! Zampa sends down a flighted ball, Delany attempts a huge heave across the line and gets an under edge that is smartly snaffled by Inglis behind the sticks. This could all be over very soon, Ireland\u2019s net run rate will be taking a pummelling too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: Ireland 40-4 (Tucker 9, Delany 11) Matt Kuhnemann into his third over and finally Ireland get some respite and find the fence courtesy of a couple of lusty blows from the blade of Gareth Delany. A four and SIX down the ground, the second of which clatters into the sight screen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: Ireland 28-4 (Tucker 8, Delany 0) It\u2019s a wicket maiden from Nathan Ellis. A masterclass of T20 bowling – slower balls, short balls, cutters and full and fast. He has 3-5 from his two overs!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Ben Calitz b Ellis 2 (Ireland 27-4)<\/p>\n Another one to Ellis! He goes full pace this time and a bit of extra bounce sees Calitz get an under edge and chop onto the stumps. Ireland are in pieces.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: Ireland 27-3 (Tucker 8, Calitz 2) Tucker climbs into a length ball from Kuhnemann and deposits down the ground for SIX. Brief respite for Ireland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: Ireland 18-3 (Tucker, Calitz 0) Lorcan Tucker and Ben Calitz have a heck of a rebuild job on their hands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Curtis Campher c Green b Ellis 4 (Ireland 17-3<\/p>\n Ellis strikes again with the slower ball! Campher is suckered this time, plinking a catch to Green at midwicket. Ireland are effectively 17-4 with Stirling retired hurt. Carnage in Colombo.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Ross Adair b Ellis 12 (Ireland 13-2)<\/p>\n What a peach! Ellis completely flummoxes Adair with a slower ball first up, the ball floats out of the back of the hand, Adair is so confuddled he\u2019s on the back foot and the ball ploops into his middle stump!<\/p>\n Did I mention this week\u2019s Spin was all about the art of the slower ball? That was a very fine example.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: Ireland 13-1 (R Adair 12, Campher 0) Curtis Campher joins Adair in the middle\u2026<\/p>\n (Yes that is an ellipsis of doom\u2026)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Harry Tector c Green b Kuhnemann 0 (Ireland 13-1)<\/p>\n Matt Renshaw has just dropped an absolute goober! Adair plinks a simple catch to cover but Renshaw is almost beaten by the slowness and puts it down. Wow. You don\u2019t often see a catch so simple shelled at this level.<\/p>\n Adair takes a single to get off strike. Tector then launches into the off side but doesn\u2019t time it\u2026 Cameron Green settles underneath the ball and takes the catch. That\u2019s how you do it Matthew. Poor shot from Tector and he drags himself off the field.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1st over: Ireland 11-0 (R Adair 11, Tector 0) Ross Adair is not messing about though, a bunt over mid off for four is followed by a crisp drive down the ground that is timed all the way for SIX. Great shot. You\u2019d think Ireland won\u2019t go down without a fight here. Eleven off the first over and the dramatic retirement of Stirling.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.40 EST<\/p>\n Paul Stirling retires hurt<\/p>\n Paul Stirling and Ross Adair come out to open the batting for Ireland. Xavier Bartlett starts with the ball for Australia. Stirling clips off his toes and sets off for a single\u2026 OH NO! Stirling has pulled a hamstring setting off for the single and he can\u2019t continue. A huge blow to Ireland\u2019s hopes, Stirling hobbles off and grimaces in pain. He retires hurt so could technically come back later if the match goes down to the wire but that is terrible for Ireland and Stirling in this match and for the latter probably the tournament too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Australia will look to bowl spin and go pace off with the ball in hand. Good job someone has just written this week\u2019s Spin column all about the slower ball eh?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In case you missed it, there was quite a match over in Ahmedabad this morning:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Australia set Ireland 183 to win in Colombo<\/p>\n 20th over: Australia 182-6 (Connolly 11, Bartlett 11) Australia end strongly and Ireland will have it all to do on a spinning, used pitch. Connolly swipes Adair\u2019s slower ball for SIX and Bartlett squirts a bonus under edge for four to make it 13 runs off the final over.<\/p>\n It is hot out there, Connolly has a brief word with the tv crew on the way off and is absolutely dripping in sweat, shades of the pilot in Airplane. \u201cI felt like I could have done with another pre-season out there\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19th over: Australia 169-6 (Connolly 3, Bartlett 6) Ten off McCarthy\u2019s over, big Barry has had an expensive day, 0-37 from three overs. It\u2019s definitely a pitch for pace off bowling in Colombo. Bartlett shows brute strength to muscle a length ball down the ground. Australia\u2019s score is already an imposing one\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18th over: Australia 159-6 (Connolly 0, Bartlett 0) Two new batters at the crease for Australia and two overs to get through for Ireland. A target of 180 would be tough going on this pitch for Stirling\u2019s men. Ireland\u2019s captain hasn\u2019t been seen on the field since taking that early diving catch but should be ok to open up the innings for his side.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Marcus Stoinis c Calitz b MR Adair 45 (Australia 159-6)<\/p>\n DROP! Not another! Delany shells Stoinis at short cover! Hit hard but should have been taken, Ireland can\u2019t afford to be this loose with their catching. Salt meet wound. Stoinis then smokes a Mark Adair slower ball over square leg for a huge SIX.<\/p>\n Gone! Phew. A topsy turvy over ends in Stoinis clubbing a full toss to Ben Calitz in the deep and the catch is HELD! Stoinis walks over knowing he\u2019s left a few death over runs out there after doing the hard work.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17th over: Australia 149-5 (Stoinis 35, Connolly 0) Close! Cooper Connolly is the new man and he is nearly yorked first ball by another quicker delivery from Humphreys.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Matt Renshaw b Humphreys 37 (Australia 149-5)<\/p>\n Bowled \u2019im! Lovely ball from Humphreys! Renshaw has to go after having his middle stump uprooted by a quicker ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16th over: Australia 142-4 (Renshaw 35, Stoinis 30) Barry McCarthy returns but the pace on the ball has cost Ireland again, thirteen runs off the over to give the burly seamer 0-27 from his two overs. Renshaw muscles the final ball of the over down the ground for four as Australia look to put their foot down.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15th over: Australia 129-4 (Renshaw 29, Stoinis 23) Dockrell finishes with 1-31 off his four overs, he blots his copybook slightly with a full ball that is driven for four by Renshaw off his final delivery. That is Australia\u2019s first boundary in 18 balls. A disciplined performance in the field so far from Ireland. They let it go at this stage against Sri Lanka, conceding too many runs off the final five overs. Can they keep the pressure on here in Colombo?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14th over: Australia 120-4 (Renshaw 24, Stoinis 19) Ireland are squeezing well in these middle overs, Delany rattles through his six balls for the cost of just four runs. A mixture of fired in darts and back of the hand flighted balls keep Renshaw and Stoinis guessing, a few signs of frustration starting to set in for the Aussies. Time for a slurp of electrolytes for the players. (Kenco pour moi. Ou la la) .<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13th over: Australia 116-4 (Renshaw 21, Stoinis 18) Matthew Humphreys returns and gets in and out with a frugal over, just six runs off it as the bowler fires in at the leg stump and doesn\u2019t allow the batters to get under the ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: Australia 110-4 (Renshaw 18, Stoinis 17) Marcus Stoinis opens those American fridge sized shoulders to carve for four through the off side. Tector then drops short and is punished through square. Twelve off the over and the partnership building ominously.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: Australia 98-4 (Renshaw 17, Stoinis 6) No boundary off Dockrell\u2019s third over but Australia still manage to pocket eight runs off it. Tector is coming back for another.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10th over: Australia 90-4 (Renshaw 14, Stoinis 1) Marcus Stoinis joins Renshaw and gets off the mark with a poke into the covers. Ireland hanging in there but they need to keep taking wickets and get a hold on the run rate. The tv shows the Maxwell wicket, it was an under edge which makes Tucker\u2019s catch all the more impressive.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Glenn Maxwell c Tucker b Tector 9 (Australia 88-4)<\/p>\n Huge wicket! Great catch from Lorcan Tucker stood up to the stumps and Maxwell is on his way!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9th over: Australia 86-3 (Renshaw 12, Maxwell 8) Dockrell drops short and Maxwell doesn\u2019t miss out, pulling to the fence with ease for four. Nine off the over in total, which is about Australia\u2019s run rate for the innings. Wickets needed for the boys in emerald green.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8th over: Australia 77-3 (Renshaw 9, Maxwell 2) Harry Tector is such a Le Carre-esque name. Less the Spy Who Came In From The Cold as The Part-Time Spinner Given a Twirl In The Heat. Maxwell and Renshaw rotate strike and pick up eight off Tector\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: Australia 69-3 (Renshaw 3, Maxwell 0) Here comes the Big Show. Glenn Maxwell arrives in the middle. Another couple of wickets and Ireland are well in this game. Have to get Maxwell cheaply, mind.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Josh Inglis c Stirling b Dockrell 37 (Australia 69-3)<\/p>\n George Dockrell picks up a big wicket to mark his 350th game for Ireland! Inglis tries to go over extra cover once more but he doesn\u2019t get enough of it to beat the ursine Paul Stirling who dives and plucks the ball like a grizzly pouching a spring salmon!<\/p>\n George Dockrell and Paul Stirling after taking the wicket of Josh Inglis. Photograph: Robert Cianflone\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.26 EST<\/p>\n 6th over: Australia 64-2 (Inglis 33, Renshaw 2) Inglis unfurls a beautiful extra cover drive in-to-out off Delany\u2019s first ball but the leg-spinner comes back strong and the over goes for eight in total.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: Australia 56-2 (Inglis 27, Renshaw 0) Matt Renshaw joins Inglis and Gareth Delany is called upon for the next over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.02 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Cameron Green c Dockrell b MR Adair 21 (Australia 56-2)<\/p>\n Josh Inglis survives a bunny hopping catch from Delany on the square leg boundary as the fielder steps on the sponge in taking the catch so it is SIX runs. Has to go down as a missed opportunity, those catches are taken so readily these days. Inglis survives and Australia bring up the fifty in just 4.4 overs. Green then rubs salt into the wound with a massive SIX on the breeze over the leg side into second tier of the stadium\u2026<\/p>\n Green falls off the last ball though! Tries to repeat the shot but Adair held it back a little and the big fella mistimes it to Dockrell at midwicket. Ireland hold a catch – finally \u2013 and breath a sigh of relief for the time being.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: Australia 40-1 (Inglis 19, Green 14) Fourteen runs off the over as Cam Green uses those long levers to muscle Barry McCarthy down the ground for a four and then a towering SIX with the Colombo breeze. Australia hitting back after the early loss of Travis Head.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: Australia 26-1 (Inglis 18, Green 1) Humphreys returns after a decent start. Inglis picks up four through cover and then swivels a leg side ball for four. Humphreys arrows in a quicker ball but Inglis manages to edge it away for a third four in the over.<\/p>\n South Africa have beaten Afghanistan after a second Super Over in Ahmedabad! Keshav Maharaj somehow gets the Proteas over the line, Jonathan Trott\u2019s side falling short by four runs in a quite extraordinary game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: Australia 12-1 (Inglis 5, Green 0) Cameron Green joins Inglis in the middle. Ireland buzz around but Inglis calms a few nerves with a languid back cut for four through the off side.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Travis Head run out (Calitz\/MR Adair) 7 (Australia 7-1)<\/p>\n Head is run out! Squirts a shot behind square and sets off for as dodgy single, doesn\u2019t get there and is gone!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1st over: Australia 7-0 ( Head 7, Inglis 0) Travis Head and Josh Inglis start for Australia. Matthew Humphreys to open the bowling for Ireland with his left arm tweakers. Play!<\/p>\n Humphreys drops short and Head doesn\u2019t miss out, clubbing away through point for four. Head clips two to the leg side but is then DROPPED! Gah. Ireland spilling chances once again, Head rasps a cut shot to point where it is shelled on the dive. I\u2019ll have the name of the guilty party in a second. Big appeal for lbw off the final ball of the first over but it looked to be going over and Ireland opt against a review. Phew. What a start!<\/p>\n Over in Ahmedabad, South Africa have just pongoed 23 off their second super over! Over to Afghanistan\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The players take the field in Colombo but we interrupt this broadcast to tell you that Afghanistan and South Africa are going into a second Super Over! <\/p>\n What drama in Ahmedabad, Tristan Stubbs needed to hit a six off the last ball for the Proteas to stay alive and he duly bunts a full bunger from Fazalhaq Farooq down the ground for\u2026 SIX!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Afghanistan have just hit 17 off their Super Over in Ahmedabad. Pressure on South Africa now!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Teams:<\/p>\n Australia: Josh Inglis (wk), Travis Head (c), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann<\/p>\n Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Australia win the toss and will bat first<\/p>\n Travis Head gets the rub of the coin and Australia will have first used of what the moustachioed marvel says \u201clooks like a good surface.\u201d A slightly rueful looking Paul Stirling admits he would have done the same. Teams incoming!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Afghanistan have just taken South Africa to a Super Over in Ahmedabad with both sides posting 187. Drama!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Breaking news: Australia captain Mitch Marsh ruled out<\/p>\n The news has just landed that Aussie captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of this opening match against Ireland having suffered a blow to the groin during training earlier this week. Apologies if you are just dipping into your morning muesli or evening meal but Marsh is suffering with \u201ctesticular bleeding.\u201d Poor chap.<\/p>\n \u201cHe [Marsh] is experiencing ongoing pain and discomfort which is restricting his movement,\u201d say Cricket<\/a> Australia in their statement. \u201cScans have confirmed internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice. Standby player Steve Smith will travel to Sri Lanka as cover to acclimatise and prepare, should he be required.\u201d<\/p>\n So Steve Smith is called up to join the squad, we\u2019ll have more news at the toss shortly. Australia only have 12 fit players to pick their starting XI from! Travis Head will captain today\u2019s match in Marsh\u2019s absence. Steve Smith is likely hot footing it to an airport with a smile on his face (whilst showing requisite concern for Marsh\u2019s injured gonads of course\u2026)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.03 EST<\/p>\n Preamble![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770812408_248_James_Wallace.png\")
James Wallace<\/p>\n