Ireland v Australia, 2015
Wisden's review of the only ODI, Ireland v Australia, 2015
Ian Callender
15-Apr-2016
At Belfast, August 27, 2015. Australia won by 23 runs (D/L). Toss: Australia. One-day international debut: J. A. Burns.
The class of Starc and the pace of Cummins proved the difference as Australia, playing their first one-day international since winning the World Cup five months earlier, beat Ireland in another rain affected encounter. On their previous visit to Belfast, in June 2012, less than 11 overs had been possible; now, 64 were bowled between the showers. Even so, Ireland were on course for their adjusted target of 181 in 24 overs, and a first win over Australia, while Joyce and Niall O'Brien - whose injured brother Kevin was missing his first ODI for seven years - were putting on 86 for the third wicket at better than a run a ball. They departed in successive overs to Maxwell, but Ireland stayed in touch, and needed 46 from five overs with five wickets left. However, Wilson and Mooney - run out in a mix-up with Thompson - fell in the same Cummins over, and Starc soon ended Thompson's 16-ball cameo; Coulter-Nile mopped up. Smith, now full-time one-day captain, had surprisingly chosen to bat after the start was delayed to 12.30. But Burns, in his first ODI, and Warner justified his decision: they put on 139 inside 22 overs - Australia's highest partnership for any wicket against Ireland - before Young broke through, four overs after he had Burns caught behind on 61 off a no-ball. Murtagh then removed Warner for 84, and the middle order fell away before rain ended the innings.
Man of the Match: D. A. Warner.
The class of Starc and the pace of Cummins proved the difference as Australia, playing their first one-day international since winning the World Cup five months earlier, beat Ireland in another rain affected encounter. On their previous visit to Belfast, in June 2012, less than 11 overs had been possible; now, 64 were bowled between the showers. Even so, Ireland were on course for their adjusted target of 181 in 24 overs, and a first win over Australia, while Joyce and Niall O'Brien - whose injured brother Kevin was missing his first ODI for seven years - were putting on 86 for the third wicket at better than a run a ball. They departed in successive overs to Maxwell, but Ireland stayed in touch, and needed 46 from five overs with five wickets left. However, Wilson and Mooney - run out in a mix-up with Thompson - fell in the same Cummins over, and Starc soon ended Thompson's 16-ball cameo; Coulter-Nile mopped up. Smith, now full-time one-day captain, had surprisingly chosen to bat after the start was delayed to 12.30. But Burns, in his first ODI, and Warner justified his decision: they put on 139 inside 22 overs - Australia's highest partnership for any wicket against Ireland - before Young broke through, four overs after he had Burns caught behind on 61 off a no-ball. Murtagh then removed Warner for 84, and the middle order fell away before rain ended the innings.
Man of the Match: D. A. Warner.