The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo showcased a thrilling match on Wednesday, as Australia showcased their skills in T20 Cricket. In the 14th match of Group B at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Australia defeated Ireland by 67 runs, demonstrating their strength and readiness for the knockout rounds.
Stoinis and Inglis lead Australia to a strong score against Ireland
Australia chose to bat first, but got an early shock when captain Travis Head was run out for just 7 runs thanks to a quick fielding effort from Ben Calitz. Despite this, Australia maintained their aggressive approach. Josh Inglis quickly took charge, scoring 37 runs off just 17 balls to keep the innings in motion. Although Cameron Green (21) and Glenn Maxwell (9) departed soon after, Australia’s batting depth shone through.
The innings saw a steady performance from Matt Renshaw, who scored 37 runs, and a powerful display from Marcus Stoinis, who made 45 runs off 29 balls. Stoinis’s aggressive play in the later stages helped Australia reach 150 runs by the 18th over. Late contributions from Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett pushed the total to a solid 182/6. For Ireland, Mark Adair took 2 wickets for 44 runs, but the bowling attack struggled against Australia’s wide array of shots.
Ellis and Zampa’s bowling stuns Ireland
Ireland’s chase of 183 took a severe hit at the start when captain Paul Stirling had to retire due to injury after just one ball. Nathan Ellis took full advantage, quickly dismissing Ross Adair and Curtis Campher, leaving Ireland in a tough position at 27/4 within the first five overs.
As the game continued, Adam Zampa tightened the pressure. The leg-spinner was nearly unplayable, disrupting Ireland’s batting order with clever variations. Zampa took 4 wickets for 23 runs, including Lorcan Tucker (24), the only Irish batsman to put up significant resistance. George Dockrell made a spirited effort with 41 runs, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
Ellis finished with an impressive 4/24, helping dismiss Ireland for just 115 runs in 16.5 overs, leaving them 67 runs short. This win not only highlights Australia’s dominance in Group B but also significantly boosts their Net Run Rate as they advance in the tournament.
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