Aussie pacemen star as Smith era begins with Ireland win

BELFAST: Steven Smith’s first match as full-time Australia captain ended with a rain-affected 23-run one-day international win over Ireland in Belfast on Thursday, but it needed the speed of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to put the hosts in their place. A thirdwicket partnership of 86 between Ed Joyce (44) and Niall O’Brien (45) put Ireland on course for their first ever victory over the world champions. But after Glenn Maxwell ended the stand, the middle-lower order could not maintain the scoring rate against the express pace of Cummins and Starc, the world’s top-ranked ODI bowler.

Cummins (two for 19) actually broke the bat of Stuart Thompson, who had just hit off-spinner Maxwell for two sixes as Ireland, cricket’s leading non-Test nation, chased a revised target of 181 in 24 overs on a frustrating day of four rain interruptions. Left-arm fast bowler Starc (two for 34) ended Thompson’s late rally to give one-day wicket-keeper Matthew Wade his third catch of the innings.

Nathan Coulter-Nile, with the final two wickets in the last over, ended as the most successful bowler and also the most economical (three for 13 in 4.4 overs) as Australia, in their first match in this format since beating New Zealand in the World Cup final in Melbourne in March, ultimately won with something to spare.

Australia, with Smith leading the team for the first time following the retirement of Michael Clarke, had chosen to bat on what he described as a slow but good pitch and they made 222 for six before the second rain interruption ended their innings in the 41st over.— AFP