Australia and Ireland reflect on missed opportunities

NICK HOWSON: The defending champions ran out comfortable winners by 42 runs in Brisbane, but both sides emerged with regrets

Australia may have boosted their semi-final hopes with a comfortable victory over Ireland at The Gabba, but it was an anything but perfect evening for the defending champions.

Though Aaron Finch's side leapt into the top two with a game to play, they were unable to eclipse England's net run rate (of 0.239) which will act as the tiebreaker if teams are level on points.

Victory by more than 75 runs or more would have been enough to go ahead of Jos Buttler's side before their clash with New Zealand on Tuesday (November 1).

Wickets for Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell reduced the Irish to 25 for 5, chasing 180, but Lorcan Tucker's unbeaten 71 led a brief recovery before they were dismissed for 137.

The tournament hosts will get one further chance to improve both their points tally and NRR against Afghanistan but need favours from the Kiwis and Sri Lanka, England's final two opponents, to avoid needing a heavy win in Adelaide.

^{Mark Adair's third over was a key moment (PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)}

"I guess you could look at that," said Starc on the net run rate issue. "I mean, first and foremost, we need to win these games, so we tick that box.

"I think we bowled quite well, and generally here at the Gabba in night games when it gets dry, it's generally a good chasing wicket. 

"I mean, our power play was excellent, and we certainly put him on the back foot. I think they tried to stay aggressive and we batted quite well throughout the innings.

"What, we drag it back 1.2 or something like that. I mean, we'll wait and see what the result is tomorrow and then we could be not having to worry about talking about net run rate.

"So, yeah, we certainly tick that box today and won the game, and we move on to Adelaide now."

^{Marcus Stonis was among three injury concerns for Australia (PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)}

Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis both left the field during the chase with injuries while Tim David did not field at all due to a tight hamstring.

"There's a bit of soreness around," admitted Starc. "I'm not sure. I guess we'll hear from the physios and medical guys tomorrow.

"They're in good spirits. I don't know what is the extent or where everyone's place is. They're off the field, so there's something going on there."

Australia were 92 for 3 through 13 overs but powered 87 runs from the final 42 deliveries to finish on 179 for 5. Barry McCarthy dismissed the top three but Ireland lost control in the final third of the innings.

^{Andrew Balbirnie lamented a missed opportunity in Brisbane (WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)}

Captain Andrew Balbirnie said: "It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, but I suppose having been 20 or 30 out for 5 and still having that feeling is, I suppose, a bit of a positive in a round-about way. I still feel like we're doing some good stuff."

The turning point appeared to come in the 15th over from which Mark Adair conceded 26. It lasted 11 deliveries including five wides, two fours and a six.

"Mark has been one of our best T20 bowlers over the last couple of years," added Balbirnie. "He is the sort of character that if an over doesn't go well, I would still potentially throw the ball to him because he has such confidence and a skill set.

"T20 cricket that can happen. Those sorts of overs can happen. You just have to keep the faith and back your bowlers as often as possible, and you'll get the benefits in the long run."

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