T20 World Cup: Australia beat Ireland to boost semi-final chances

Australia bushed Ireland by 42 runs to boost their hopes of reaching the Men's T20 World Cup semi-finals, and besides wounded England's past 4 chances successful the process.

The effect efficaciously ends Ireland's situation but is besides damaging for England, who play their penultimate crippled of the radical against New Zealand connected Tuesday.

Australia's nett run-rate, which volition divided the teams if some England and Australia triumph their remaining games, has closed up connected England's.

However, Australia play Afghanistan successful their last radical crippled - a lucifer they volition expect to triumph convincingly - portion England play Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka aft their duty with New Zealand.

But Australia's triumph connected Monday was possibly not arsenic convincing arsenic it could person been - oregon the nett run-rate plaything arsenic large - aft Australia brutally reduced Ireland to 25-5 wrong 4 overs.

Ireland's fig 3 Lorcan Tucker held steadfast with a superb 71 not retired from 48 balls to spare Ireland humiliation and prolong the innings, overmuch to the alleviation of England supporters.

Ireland were mediocre with the ball, bowling 13 wides successful the 20 overs.

There were 5 successful 1 11-ball implicit from seamer Mark Adair, arsenic Finch and Marcus Stoinis, who deed 35 from 25 balls, took afloat advantage.

Finch, though, limped disconnected the tract with a hamstring wounded successful Ireland's chase, a further dampener connected what was turning into a cleanable nighttime for Australia.

Australia win, but was it enough?

Australia's hopes person been successful jeopardy since they opened with a 89-run nonaccomplishment to New Zealand.

They person been battling to retrieve their nett run-rate ever since and though this is inactive a sizeable triumph - 1 which they would surely person taken earlier the crippled - it could person been adjacent better.

Their full looked somewhat supra par but the commencement with the ball, encouraged by a partisan Gabba crowd, proved acold excessively bully for Ireland.

Andrew Balbirnie was bowled astir his legs by Pat Cummins earlier the unsafe Paul Stirling and fig 4 Harry Tector were caught successful the ringing successful the 3rd over.

Left-armer Mitchell Starc past produced a devastating double-wicket maiden, removing Curtis Campher and George Dockrell for ducks with vicious inswingers.

The pumped up celebrations of Australia's players suggested they were keen to support their ft connected Ireland's pharynx but the hosts were denied by Tucker's good hand.

He clubbed Hazlewood into the Gabba's 2nd tier for a immense leg-side six and aboriginal struck 4 fours successful a Starc over.

Had Australia dismissed Ireland beneath 105 their nett run-rate would person surpassed England's. Tucker ensured his broadside salvaged immoderate pridefulness and, successful the process, aided England's cause.

Finch finds form, but astatine what cost?

Finch endured an eventful night, re-discovering his interaction earlier having to swat distant questions astir his fittingness - seemingly injuring himself during his knock.

He had scored a stodgy 44 runs from 53 balls crossed his 2 erstwhile innings successful the tournament, with immoderate suggesting helium should beryllium dropped.

Even successful Brisbane helium inactive struggled astatine times but, aft David Warner was caught astatine abbreviated good limb astatine the commencement of the 3rd over, determination were flashes of Finch's big-hitting prowess.

He launched Adair implicit long-on successful the 5th implicit and aboriginal smacked a afloat flip from the right-arm seamer for six to scope 50 from 38 balls - the last shot of Adair's marathon over.

When Finch and Stoinis were flying, helped by Ireland's nonaccomplishment of subject - they added 70 successful six overs - a people of nearer 200 looked possible.

Ireland pulled it backmost but, adjacent with Tucker's heroics, indispensable present bushed New Zealand to advancement and anticipation for an improbable bid of results.