World champions Australia beat Ireland by 23 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method for rain-affected matches in their lone one-day international in Belfast on Thursday.
.@davidwarner31 is awarded MoM in the Only ODI for his entertaining knock of 84 #IrevAus http://t.co/tR95cO9gaj pic.twitter.com/CEwBowfpgo
— ICC (@ICC) August 27, 2015
Ireland, set a revised target of 181 in 24 overs were dismissed for 157 in 23.4 overs, with Nathan Coulter-Nile taking three for 13 and Pat Cummins two for 19.
Earlier, Australia in their first match at this level since winning the World Cup, made 222 for six in 40.2 overs before their innings was cut short by rain.
The match was set for an intriguing finale after Ireland, the leading non-Test nation, had made a fine recovery in the field after being forced to go into the game without big-hitting Kevin O’Brien because of a hamstring injury.
Australia, with Steven Smith leading the team for the first time in his new role as captain, following the retirement of Michael Clarke, chose to bat on a good pitch and Burns, on his ODI debut, and Warner justified his decision.
They put on 139 for the first wicket, with both batsmen compiling half-centuries, but Ireland hit back with six wickets for 85 runs to give the home crowd plenty to shout about.
Credit goes to the @Irelandcricket ground staff for making this game possible and for the fight given by the hosts. #IREvAUS
— Nikhil Mane (@nikhiltait) August 27, 2015
The first 10 overs powerplay, though, was dominated by Australia as they scored 80, which included nine fours and two sixes, with Craig Young receiving the harshest treatment, his third over going for 17, including three consecutive fours by Burns.
Young got Burns after a mistimed pull went safely into the gloves of Niall O’Brien, getting his chance behind the wicket in place of Gary Wilson.
Warner hit the next ball for six but that was to be the last boundary for 11 overs as Ireland took control, reducing the tourists to 172 for four with Warner caught at deep mid-wicket for 84, George Bailey bowled by Tim Murtagh for one and Glenn Maxwell brilliantly caught low down to his right by O’Brien for just two.
Ireland claimed the big scalp of Smith, caught behind for 21 and just before the rain arrived Mitchell Marsh found the hands of Murtagh at long-off.
Australia’s tour continues with a lone Twenty20 and five-match one-day series against England, who beat them 3-2 in the recent Ashes Test campaign.
