After early turbulence, Australia hit cruise mode

Without their incumbent captain Mitchell Marsh and reduced to just 12 available players, Australia launched their T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 67-run win over Ireland in Colombo. With the bat, they overcame a stuttering middle phase, before unleashing a clinical bowling display to seal the contest inside 17 overs.Sent in to bat on a surface offering grip and bite, Australia posted a formidable 182/6. The innings began with a wobble when stand-in captain Travis Head, deputising after Mitchell Marsh’s late withdrawal with a groin injury, was run out for 6 in the second over following sharp work from Ben CalitzJosh Inglis tore into Ireland’s seamers with a thrilling 37 off 17, smashing six fours and launching a towering six. Cameron Green maintained the tempo with a quickfire 21 from 11 as Australia surged to 69/3 in seven overs.Ireland clawed back through spin. George Dockrell and Matthew Humphreys turned the leash in the middle overs, while Mark Adair struck twice to drag the scoring rate down. At 88/4, Australia were in danger of squandering their start. Matt Renshaw’s composed 37 from 33, however, proved pivotal. Rotating strike astutely and capitalising on anything loose, he shepherded the lower order and guided Australia to a score that felt above par.Ireland’s chase never recovered from a chaotic start. Captain Paul Stirling retired hurt after facing a single delivery, after which the top order unravelled. Medium pacer Nathan Ellis set the tone with incisive changes of pace, removing Ross Adair and Curtis Campher in quick succession. By the end of the third over, Ireland were reeling at 17/3.Adam Zampa then took charge. Exploiting the grip on offer, he claimed 4/23, including key wickets of Lorcan Tucker and Dockrell, who briefly counterpunched with 41 from 29. Ellis returned to wrap up the tail, finishing with career-best figures of 4/12 as Ireland were bowled out for 115 in 16.5 overs. This was the first instance when two bowlers picked up four wickets each for Australia in a T20I game.With Marsh sidelined and Tim David recuperating from a hamstring injury, Australia’s depth was tested but they trumped in a largely lop-sided affair. After the early turbulence, both in the build-up and in middle overs, they delivered a victory built on composure and seamless execution.Australia 182/ 6 (Stoinis 45, Inglis 37, Renshaw 37) beat Ireland 115 (Dockrell 41, Ellis 4-12, Zampa 4-23) by 67 runs.