Australia 180-5 (Finch 63, Stoinis 35, McCarthy 3-29) defeated Ireland 137-10 (Tucker 71*, Maxwell 2-14, Zampa 2-19) by 42 runs in their T20 World Cup match on Monday, October 31, 2022.
Australia moved to the top 2 of the group 1 points table and boosted their chance of making to the semis after thrashing Irish team for 137-10. Aaron Finch was the architect of the Australian batting triumph, scoring a sensible half-century. Whereas, Starc and Maxwell took care of the bowling department by taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively.
Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl. On the slow Gabba pitch, Ireland gets an early break through, getting rid of the danger man David Warner. The skipper anchored the innings in a slow and steady manner and reaching his another T20 half-century by hitting the ball over the fence but soon getting out courtesy of Barry McCarthy. Josh Little and Barry McCarthy being the only beneficiary bowlers with 5 wickets between them tried their best to stop Australia. Mark Adair being very costly for astonishing 59 runs in his 4 overs. Mathew Wade and Tim David helped Aussies in getting solid 16 runs in the 20th over.
Australian bowling attack was so impressive that the Irish line-up had no answers to their line and length. Ireland with a poor powerplay scored 49-5 runs in their first 6 overs. Pat Cummins getting the Irish skipper Andy Balbirnie (6) for cheap. Then Glenn Maxwell cleaning dangerous Paul Sterling (11) and Harry Tector (6) in the same over with his unreadable length. Australian pace machine Mitchell Starch helped in getting the stumps off the ground with a maiden over vanishing both Campher and Dockrell for golden duck, they had no answer to Starc’s 145kpmh swinging yorker. Gareth Delany looked good for his 14 of 10 but not good enough to face Marcus Stoinis eventually getting out. Lorcan Tucker was the only one going and directing the Irish batting in the right direction. Completing his 50 with a 6 just like Finch.
Ireland’s wickets kept falling and falling in one way or other and had no answer to Australian bowling attack. Adam Zampa gets his men, Adair and Fionn Hand. And the final wicket was a runout courtesy of Mitchell Marsh to get Josh Little. Tucker played beautifully nut there was no one at the other end of the crease to support him. Eventually ending up short of 42 runs. Massive respect for Tucker.
Maxwell given the second over was a master-stroke gamble by Finch. Max bowls a short and on middle, Paul Sterling makes room. There was a hit but Paul slaps straight towards the mid off and taken by Cummins. You can’t keep Pat out of the game. Max takes one more at the end of the over. Harry couldn’t believe he has picked the fielder. Maxwell bowls short and on pads, asking Harry to hit. Smith at square leg makes no mistake.
Similarly, Starc bowls similar inswingers yorkers to both Curtis Campher and George Dockrell making it very difficult for them to read his line and swing and both walks towards the pavilion for a not, making half of the side back in the hut and we were not even done with 30 legal balls in the game.
Tucker on the run
Lorcan Tucker scored more than half of Ireland’s total runs and more boundaries than anyone in the innings. He timed and placed his shots to the utmost perfection taking on Starc over the covers. His determination to take on the pace attack. He kept his calm and tried his best to get his team over the line but fell short of supporting teammates. Overall, Lorcan Tucker scored 71 of 38 balls with 9 boundaries and a six with a strike rate of 148.
Man of the Match
Aaron Finch, the skipper of Australia is also the man of the match and he says “it was not an easiest of wicket as it is played slow and 180 was a good score on the wicket.” Adds he has no pressure, there has been lot of support for him, he has trained really well and that is all you can control. Ends by saying they are very hopeful of going through. Adds they needed to lay foundation early but they found it difficult to get going straight on. Informs David had a niggle but nothing to worry. States England and New Zealand is a big game, it would have been great to dismiss Ireland for a low total but Tucker played a brilliant knock.
