All-rounder James Hopes took career best figures of five wickets for 14 runs as Australia came through some nervy moments to beat Ireland by 39 runs in a one-day international on Thursday.
World champions Australia, in the first match of their British Isles tour, were held to 231 for nine in 50 overs at Clontarf.
Opening batsman and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, only on tour after Brad Haddin was ruled out with an elbow injury, top scored with 81.
PHOTO: AFP
Ireland openers William Porterfield and Paul Stirling then shared a stand of 80 in 11 overs to spark thoughts of a shock win in Australia’s first match at this level since playing New Zealand in March.
However, Ireland’s innings fell away, with medium-pacer Hopes doing the bulk of the damage as the hosts were bowled out for 192 with eight overs to spare.
“When we turned up today we knew there was a good chance that Ireland were going to come out and give us a good run,” Hopes said. “We hadn’t played any one-day cricket for a while since New Zealand and we got off to a sluggish start.”
Set 232 on a slow pitch, Ireland’s first-wicket duo raced off at seven runs an over.
When Ryan Harris, who had been hit for 16 in his first over, dismissed Stirling for a run-a-ball 36, Ireland had 80 on the board and were on course for a huge upset.
However, the wickets of Porterfield, for 39 from 42 balls, and Gary Wilson of Surrey followed in successive overs.
Instead of expressing the freedom the openers had shown, Ireland’s middle order tried to consolidate and they lost their way.
The turning point was the introduction into the attack by Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Taking pace off the ball and bowling outswingers, Hopes appeared fortunate to get the wicket of Alex Cusack for 30, awarded a leg before decision when the ball seemed to be going over the top.
However, after that the 31-year-old Queenslander was virtually unplayable and his five wickets helped reduce Ireland to 156 for nine.
Frustrated Ireland captain Porterfield said: “It was ours to lose and we let it slip. It’s pretty disappointing from the position we were in.”
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