Defined by bizarre injuries and tactical aptness, Australia overcame the loss of their captain to crush Ireland by 67 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa turned the Colombo night into a house of horrors for the Irish, sharing eight wickets to leave the "Men in Green" on the brink of World Cup elimination.
Australia’s campaign started with a medical emergency just 30 minutes before the toss. Captain Mitchell Marsh was ruled out with internal testicular bleeding following a training mishap, forcing Travis Head to step in as interim leader.
Travis Head’s heart rate probably doesn't get above 25 at the best of times. We just tried to hit the ground running.
Nathan Ellis on the captaincy swap
Ireland’s luck was no better. Their captain, Paul Stirling, suffered a torn hamstring while taking a single on the very first ball of the chase. He never returned, effectively leaving Ireland.
After Stirling's retirement, the top order was left reeling by Australia's variations, slumping to 27/4. Only George Dockrell, in his 350th international appearance, and Lorcan Tucker provided any resistance with a 46-run stand, but they lacked the necessary acceleration to challenge the massive total.
With first-choice pacers Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood unavailable, Nathan Ellis accepted the mantle of attack being clinical with his slower deliveries
On a slow, gripping surface, Australia proved they aren't just a team of six-hitters. After a disastrous mix-up saw Travis Head run out for 6, the middle order adapted:
Matt Renshaw (37) and Marcus Stoinis (45) ran a staggering 22 twos, turning potential dot balls into pressure-relieving runs.
Despite missing the raw power of Tim David and Mitchell Marsh, Australia plundered 62 runs in the final six overs to reach a commanding 182.
Ellis’s first delivery was a back-of-the-hand slower ball that clean-bowled Ross Adair, a ball Ellis admitted he had been practicing specifically for "first ball" scenarios.
By the time Ellis finished his first two overs, his figures read 3-5, and Ireland was reeling at 27/4.
While Ellis provided the incision, Adam Zampa (4/23) provided the containment, working through the middle order and ending a brief resistance from George Dockrell (41).
