Date: February 11, 2026
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group B
Result: Australia won by 67 runs
Toss: Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
Player of the Match: Nathan Ellis (Australia) | 4 wickets for 12 runs, a match-winning spell that dismantled Ireland’s batting lineup.
Australia Innings Score
Australia posted 182/6 in 20 overs.
- Josh Inglis: 37 off 17 balls
- Marcus Stoinis: 45 off 29 balls
- Matt Renshaw: 37 off 33 balls
- Cameron Green: 21 off 11 balls
Ireland Innings Score
Ireland were 115 all out in 16.5 overs while chasing 183.
- George Dockrell: 41 off 29
- Lorcan Tucker: 24 off 27
Match Summary
Australia began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 67-run victory over Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. After winning the toss, Australia elected to bat and posted a competitive 182/6, anchored by aggressive contributions from Inglis, Stoinis, and Renshaw. Ireland’s chase quickly derailed as early wickets fell, with Paul Stirling retiring hurt on the first ball, further weakening their batting lineup. Australia’s bowlers then ran through Ireland’s order, dismissing them for 115 in 16.5 overs.
Key Highlights of AUS vs IRE
- Strong batting platform: Australia recovered from an early loss to post 182/6, thanks to key contributions from all around the order.
- Explosive starts: Josh Inglis scored 37 runs off just 17 balls, giving Australia a quick momentum boost.
- Bowling dominance: Nathan Ellis (4/12) and Adam Zampa (4/23) shared eight wickets to bowl Ireland out cheaply.
- Ireland setbacks: Ireland lost key early wickets and struggled to build partnerships in the chase.
- Player of the Match: Nathan Ellis for his match-winning bowling performance.