Australia ease to Ireland win to keep alive semi-final hopes

A lone counterattack from Lorcan Tucker, though, prevented Aaron Finch's side from overtaking England on net run rate

Brisbane: Australia 179-5, Ireland 137 - Australia win by 42 runs

Scorecard

Australia won comfortably in Brisbane against Ireland, aiding their net run rate in the process but not sufficiently to overtake England's, though they have usurped them in Group 1 at least for the time being.

The tournament hosts reduced their opposition to 25 for 5 at one stage as Aaron Finch's side continued to make amends for the opening defeat by New Zealand that so harmed their chances of progressing to the semi-finals and retaining their title.

Finch made a half century as his search for a return to form continues, before Mitchell Starc cleaned up Curtis Campher and George Dockrell – both without scoring – in the same over with inswinging yorkers as the world champions made their intentions clear.

Ironically, Ireland had started well and arguably were ahead of the game for the first 12 overs of the match. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh both fell to Barry McCarthy, while Glenn Maxwell edged Josh Little behind. But the game turned on the 13th over, bowled by Mark Adair, which comprised 11 deliveries and cost his country 26 runs.

Australia took that moment as their cue; Finch, who later left the field with a hamstring issue, smashed three sixes in his 63, while Marcus Stoinis continued from where he left off against Sri Lanka, smiting 35 off 25 balls. Dockrell, more of a batter these days, got through his four overs, conceding just 24 runs, with Little superb in ending with figures of 2 for 21. But Adair and Fionn Hand – both so impressive against England last week – leaked 74 runs from their five overs combined as Australia reached 179 for 5.

^{Lorcan Tucker's counterattack proved crucial for the wider picture of the group (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)}

In reply, Ireland threatened to be blown away: even before Andy Balbirnie was bowled around his legs by Pat Cummins, he had already survived one scare when his off-bail was flicked but not dislodged. Once he fell, though, the house of cards tumbled. Paul Stirling clothed Maxwell to mid-off, having taken Cummins down in the previous over, and Harry Tector pulled a drag-down from Maxwell to square leg.

Starc took over to reduce the Irish to five wickets down at the end of the fourth over, before a very necessary partnership ensued between Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany. Tucker fought a mostly lone hand in making an unbeaten 71, and Delany spooned a top-edge off Stoinis to Maxwell, who was visibly pumped up at mid-on.

The result by this point had long since been known, so the game within a game revolved more around how few runs Australia could restrict Ireland to, given the importance of net run rates in a competitive, rain-hit group stage.

A win by at least 75 runs would have seen Australia move ahead of England, particularly significant given a dodgy forecast for Tuesday in Brisbane, where England are set to face New Zealand in a game that Jos Buttler's side has to win to remain in the semi-final reckoning. But they couldn't quite restrict Ireland to a total under 105 as Tucker's counter continued.

Australia have one must-win match remaining – against Afghanistan – in which to bolster their net run rate, knowing that victories for England in their final two matches will likely leave a tie on seven points and fine margins to determine the identity of the semi-finalists.

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