Australia vs Ireland

Today, Australia played a ODI match against Ireland at Castle Avenue, Dublin. Australia won the toss & elected to bat first.

Shane Watson & Tim Paine opened to innings for Australia. Shane Watson gave a straight catch to Gary Wilson & went back to pavilion when Australia has scored 20 runs on board. Tim Paine put up a 2 good partnership with Ricky Ponting & Cameron White respectively which helped Australia to put up a good total against Ireland. After the fall of this 2 partnership, no one survived for longer period as the wickets kept on falling in regular intervals. Australia somehow managed to play entire 50 overs & scored 239 runs in total loosing 9 wickets. Tim Paine was the highest scorer for Australian innings as he had scored 81 runs.

Ireland needed 240 runs to win in 50 overs. William Porterfield & Paul Stirling opened innings for Ireland. Both the batsmen played well right from the start &  had put up a very good partnership of 80 runs in 65 deliveries. This was a very good & aggressive start against the World number one team. In the 66th delivery 1st wicket fell, after this another 2 wickets fell in just 6 runs. Ireland after the loss of first wicket could not recover from the loss. Ireland had another 2 OK partnership but this did not help them as they lost all the 10 wickets in 40 overs. Ireland scored only 192 runs, thereby Australia won the match by 39 runs. Best bowling figure was from James Hopes whose economy rate was 1.55 runs per over & had picked 5 wickets.