Australia opened their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 67-run win over Ireland, asserting their authority from the very beginning. After setting a formidable target of 183, the Australian bowling attack dismantled the Irish lineup, eventually bowling them out for a mere 115 runs.
Australia bully Ireland by 67 runs
This comprehensive win was built on a foundation of disciplined bowling and clinical execution in the field, ensuring a perfect start for the Aussies in the tournament.
Ireland's chase was plagued by misfortune and early setbacks. Captain Paul Stirling was forced to retire out after scoring just one run, appearing to have pulled a hamstring, which left his side leaderless on the field. The situation worsened rapidly as Harry Tector was dismissed for a duck, and opener Ross Adair fell to Nathan Ellis for 12. These early blows left Ireland reeling at 13/2, a position from which they never truly recovered.
ALSO READ: Big injury scare for India ahead of T20 World Cup clash vs Pakistan, Bumrah's yorker does the damage
Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis break Ireland batters' back
The middle order offered little resistance as a flurry of wickets saw Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, and Gareth Delany depart in quick succession. By the end of the seventh over, the Irish side had crumbled to 43/5. While Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell managed to stabilize the innings slightly with a 46-run partnership, the momentum was halted when Adam Zampa dismissed Tucker for 24 in the 14th over, effectively ending any hopes of a miracle comeback.
Australia's bowling stars made short work of the tail to seal the result. Nathan Ellis was particularly lethal, finishing with remarkable figures of 4/12, while Adam Zampa mirrored his success with 4/23. Matthew Kuhnemann also chipped in with a wicket as the Australians wrapped up the contest, securing their first points of the World Cup in emphatic fashion.
Australia’s total of 182/6 was anchored by a resilient middle-order performance, spearheaded by Marcus Stoinis and supported by vital knocks from Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia faced an early setback when Travis Head was run out for six in the second over, despite having been dropped just moments earlier. Following Head's departure, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green shifted the momentum, aggressively attacking the Irish bowlers to keep the run rate high.
ALSO READ: 'Pressure is on India': Namibia all-rounder's bold remark ahead of IND vs NAM T20 World Cup clash
The powerplay was a period of high intensity, as Green played a brisk cameo of 21 runs off 11 balls before falling to Mark Adair on the final delivery of the fifth over. Inglis maintained the pressure, guiding Australia to a solid 64/2 by the end of the powerplay. However, his explosive innings of 37 from 17 balls ended shortly after the drinks break when he was dismissed by George Dockrell. The Australian middle order faced further nerves when the experienced Glenn Maxwell was sent back to the pavilion for only nine runs, leaving the team in a potentially vulnerable position.
The recovery was led by Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis, who combined for a crucial 61-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Renshaw provided stability with a measured 37 off 33 balls, while Stoinis emerged as the top scorer with an efficient 45 off 29 deliveries. Notably, Stoinis balanced his power-hitting with exceptional fitness, accumulating 31 of his runs through hard-run singles and doubles to ensure Australia posted a commanding target.
Australia will next face Zimbabwe on February 13 while Ireland will take on Oman on February 14.