Ireland showed on Thursday that they are no more the minnows of International cricket, when they made the Aussies work hard for victory at Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. Australia was at one time looking to lose the fixture, when Ireland started the chase after limiting the world champions to a nominal 231. But it was the bowling of James Hopes that saved Australia after Irish captain William Porterfield took Ireland to a flying start. James Hopes’ five wicket haul saved Australia from humiliation, as they won the match by 39 runs.
Australia started the match in an untypical fashion, as the top order crumbled in the face of an onslaught from Irish bowling attack. Aussies’ top order struggled to develop solid partnership as they fell to 86 for 3 in 23 overs. Shane Watson and Ponting started the innings in a shaky manner, as Watson lost his wicket just for 13 runs. Ponting made 33 but followed Clarke after he was stumped out for duck. With Tim Paine and Cameron White on crease, Australia for the first time found the steady platform they were looking for. Paine and White put on total of 66 for the fourth wicket to stabilize the Australian innings. Paine made steady 81 whereas White scored 42 to take the Australian total to a respectable and challenging level. Paine, who usually struggles to find a regular spot in starting 11, was filling in for injured Brad Haddin. He made a solid case for his inclusion in the regular team, when he steered the Australian innings in difficult circumstances.
The highlights of Paine’s innings were the two sixes and one four off Boyd Rankin in a single over. Paine was caught out at midwicket by Niall O’Brien on the bowling of Kevin O’Brien after scoring 81 in 122 balls. The O’Brien brothers joined forces again to eliminate Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz for 8 and 19 respectively. Kevin O’Brien ended his bowling spell with the figures of 3 for 43. Cusack took 2 for 38, whereas Rankin finished 2 for 45.
On the other hand, William Porterfield started the Irish chase with blistering innings, as he bashed three fours off Ryan Harris’ first over. He later hit a six off Clint McKay during a speedy 80-run first wicket stand with Paul Stirling. Ireland scored 76 off the first ten overs, and for the first time Australians were looking worried about the prospects of their victory. Australia got some relief when Harris removed Stirling and Gary Wilson in the subsequent over to stop Irish juggernauts. Nathan Hauritz was brought into the attack and he made an immediate impact when he removed Porterfield for 39 to restrict Ireland to 86 for 3. Alex Cusack and Niall O’Brien showed some resistance with their 51 partnership stand but after their removal, Ireland failed to find its way back into the match. James Hopes cleaned up the rest of Irish batting line-up with a clinical bowling performance. He took 5 wickets for 19 runs off nine overs.
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has asked the ICC (International Cricket Council) to help Ireland halt migration of their promising players to bigger countries in attraction of lucrative contracts and international cricket. Many of Ireland players are playing International cricket for teams like England. Commenting on this phenomenon, Ponting said, “I am very sympathetic to countries like Ireland that potentially could keep losing their better players. It's something that shouldn't happen I feel.” He further added, “I think the ICC should be worried about that as far as trying to develop countries like Ireland and having some of their best young players poached, even in county cricket.” According to the Australian skipper, if ICC wants to see cricket flourish and develop in Ireland, then they would need to make rules prohibiting such players at governance level. He said, “If the ICC look at that and are fair about Ireland continuing to grow as a nation and maybe one day being a Test-playing nation they can’t afford to have their better players going off at a young age.”
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