ZAMPA, BOLAND DISMISS IRELAND FOR 198

Ireland squandered the chance to show their ability against the best with a midinnings collapse that took them from 121 for 2 to 146 for 6 before they were bundled out for 198. Although they managed 50 more runs than they scored against South Africa, their last eight wickets fell for 77 runs and none of their batsmen managed to touch 40.

Adam Zampa was the pick of the Australian attack, spinning webs around Ireland’s batsmen with his variations, but overall, the No.1 side may have been disappointed with their performance. Their seamers, particularly Mitchell Marsh lacked venom, especially in the first half of their performance. Having watched South Africa’s line-up tear into the short ball on the same surface two days ago, Australia’s attack should have known better than to replicate that length, and it was only when the ball started reversing slightly later on that they regained control.

William Porterfield and Paul Stirling showed none of the nerves they had against Kagiso Rabada when facing up to debutant Daniel Worrall, and his opening partner John Hastings.

They gave themselves some time to settle and then each found the boundary off the short ball. Stirling’s six came first - a cut off Hastings - before Porterfield pulled Worrall over long leg to get them going. Stirling was particularly severe on Worrall and took three boundaries off his fifth over, the most eye-catching one being a straight hit back over his head that almost went for six.

The opening pair looked good for a fifty-run stand, but Stirling hit Scott Boland straight to the cover fielder to give Australia their first success. Porterfield could have been out in the next over when Marsh found a bottom edge that was dying on Matthew Wade, who could not get forward in time. Porterfield was on 19 at the time and only added five more runs, before missing a pull off an Adam Zampa flipper that hit him low on the pad.

By then, John Anderson had made Marsh question his lengths, drilling a full ball and pulling a short one, and Marsh’s frustration would only increase. He got Anderson to reach for one and edge to second slip, but there was no one in position to take the catch. Marsh was denied Anderson’s wicket again when he pulled to Boland at fine leg, but the catch was not cleanly taken, before getting an edge off John Hastings that fell short of Wade. Amongst all that, Anderson also swept well and kept Ireland’s score ticking.