AUS vs IRE T20 world cup 2026: Ellis, Zampa star in Australia’s 67-run win over Ireland

In the 14th match of the T20 world cup 2026, Australia registered a dominant 67-run victory over Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first, Australia posted a competitive 182/6 in their tournament opener despite a shaky start. Stand-in captain Travis Head was run out for 6 off 7 balls following a mix-up with Josh Inglis, but Inglis and Cameron Green launched a counterattack with a brisk 49-run stand in just 23 balls. Green smashed 21 off 11 balls before falling to Mark Adair, while Inglis impressed with 37 off 17 deliveries, striking six fours and a six.

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Glenn Maxwell failed to capitalise on the platform, edging Lorcan Tucker for 9, leaving Australia at 90/4 at the halfway stage. Matthew Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis then steadied the innings with a crucial 61-run partnership, mixing smart strike rotation with timely boundaries. Renshaw scored 37 off 33 balls before being bowled by Matthew Humphreys, while Stoinis narrowly missed a half-century, scoring 45 off 29 balls. Mark Adair was the standout bowler for Ireland with figures of 2/44, while Humphreys, George Dockrell and Harry Tector picked up a wicket each.

In response, Ireland’s chase never gained momentum as Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa ran through the batting lineup. Ellis finished with sensational figures of 4/12 in 3.5 overs, while Zampa claimed 4/23 to bundle Ireland out for 115 in 16.5 overs. George Dockrell top-scored for Ireland with 41 off 29 balls, but lacked support from the other batters.

Brief Scores:
Australia 182/6 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 45, Matthew Renshaw 37; Mark Adair 2/44)
Ireland 115 all out in 16.5 overs (George Dockrell 41; Nathan Ellis 4/12, Adam Zampa 4/23)
Australia won by 67 runs.

Match Context

Ireland enter the contest looking to bounce back after a 20-run defeat to Sri Lanka in their Group B opener on February 8. Despite controlling the middle phase with spin, Ireland’s performance was undermined by sloppy fielding, including five dropped catches, which allowed Sri Lanka to recover and post a competitive total.

Australia enter the opener without several key veterans, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

Reflecting on their recent T20I loss to Pakistan, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said:

“We were outplayed by Pakistan. And yeah, we’ve left it there, and we’re ready to move on.”

Highlighting the team’s preparation ahead of today’s match, Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan said:

“We’ve done some of that work over the last 24 hours leading into this game. Very clear around some of the plans that we’ve got in place for some of the Australian players. And if we can adapt to the situation and the conditions quickly out there, hopefully the boys can execute their skills well tomorrow.”

Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2026: Playing XI

Ireland:
Paul Stirling(c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys

Australia:
Travis Head (c), Josh Inglis (w), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa

Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details

Event: Australia vs Ireland, T20 World Cup 2026 (Group B)

Venue: R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo

Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2026: Live Streaming Details

Where to watch the Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup match live on TV?

The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.

Where to watch the Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup match live streaming?

Live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website in India.

Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2026: Head-to-Head Stats

Total T20Is: 2

Australia won: 2

Ireland won: 0