Ireland, chasing Australia’s 179–5, were all out for 137 in the 19th over, leaving Australia to level five points, with leaders New Zealand, who have one game to go, in Group 1. is at the top.
England, who play New Zealand on Tuesday, are in third place, two points behind Australia but with a better net run rate, a factor that could be important in a tight group.
Ireland also had three points, with hopes of reaching the semi-finals out of the way before the match, but were blown away in the chase by Mitchell Starc’s pace and inswing and then the scoreboard pressure of the 180-run target.
They rolled 25-5 and handed the World Cup hosts a comfortable win despite Lorcan Tucker’s scintillating unbeaten 71.
Australia captain Aaron Finch, who won the man of the match award for his 63 runs, said the scoring was not straightforward.
“It wasn’t the smoothest wicket, it was a lot slower than we expected,” Finch said.
“He switched his pace really well and bowled a lot of cutters early in the innings.
It was difficult to find the rhythm and we did well scoring 179 runs.
Earlier, Finch had returned to form in his 44-ball knock with five fours and three sixes, responding to critics who had called for him to be dropped after a poor run with the bat.
Finch denied that he was influenced by all the chatter. “No, not feeling any pressure at all to be honest,” Finch said.
“The support from the change room and support staff has been incredible. T20 is a high-risk game, sometimes it stops, sometimes it doesn’t.”
He was patient, playing the anchor as Australia lost their first three wickets to tough Irish bowling.
– Ireland ‘making progress’ – His watchful approach paid off after Ireland’s attack and Finch had the advantage, faltering under pressure from Marcus Stoinis, who scored 35 off 25 balls.
Ireland started their run chase fast but suffered a major setback when captain Andy Balbirnie was hit for a six by Pat Cummins in the last ball of the second over.
He was chased almost immediately by the dangerous Paul Stirling, who was caught by Cummins for 11 off part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell.
Maxwell then caught Harry Tector at square leg with Ireland for 24 and the game was as good a run later as Starc bowled Curtis Camper for a duck.
Starc was bowling at real pace and struck again with another beautiful inswinger on George Dockrell’s account, leaving Ireland 25-5.
Tucker and Gareth Delany made a brief recovery until Delany skidded Maxwell trying to belt Stoinis for six.
Tucker, who came in at number three, played single-handedly, scoring 71 off 48 balls, until he was run out of partners.
“We are making progress to stay with these big teams – looking at the scoreboard we thought it was not against us,” said captain Balbirnie.
“Again the wicket column was a problem and who knows if someone stayed with Tucker.”
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