Australia Beat Ireland PtiImage Credit source: PTI
Former champion Australia has started its campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with a win. In its first match of the group stage played in Colombo, Australia easily defeated Ireland by 67 runs. The Australian team, which came without its captain Mitchell Marsh, scored 182 runs while batting first. But in response, the Irish team was bundled out for only 115 runs. The star of Australia’s victory was Nathan Ellis, who took the maximum of 4 wickets.
This Group B match was played in Colombo on Wednesday 11 February, which was Australia’s first match in this tournament. However, even before the match, the team suffered a setback as captain Mitchell Marsh Was out of this match due to injury. The team also missed his absence and the Australian team could not bat aggressively in the way for which it is famous. However, the innings of Josh Inglis (37), Marcus Stoinis (45) and Cameron Green (21) took the team to a strong score of 182 runs.
Ireland collapses in front of Ellis-Zampa
But this score also proved to be very big for Ireland and the biggest reason for this was medium pacer Nathan Ellis. However, Ireland suffered a major blow on the very first ball of the innings when captain Paul Stirling retired hurt due to injury. Then by the third over, the team had also lost 3 wickets, out of which Ellis took 2 wickets in the same over. Ireland had lost 5 wickets for 43 runs till the 7th over, in which 3 batsmen were sent back to the pavilion by Ellis.
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George Dockrell (41) definitely tried something for the team but it was insufficient. In the middle overs, leg spinner Adam Zampa demolished Ireland, taking 4 wickets. Ellis took 4 wickets in his 3.5 overs, while giving only 12 runs. No runs were scored on his 15 balls.
Once upon a time you had to work as a laborer, now you have become the hero of victory.
Before entering the Australian team, Ellis had made a special mark with his performance in the Big Bash League. But the journey to reach there was also not easy. At one time, Ellis used to be a call for batsmen in local cricket but despite this his career was not progressing. In such a situation, he left New South Wales and moved to Hobart, where before establishing his footing, he had to do different types of labor to meet his expenses. Sometimes he was working in removing furniture and installing ACs and sometimes he was working as a laborer on the roadside or in some construction work. Then his luck finally changed while playing in BBL for Hobart Hurricanes.