commentary: australia v ireland

Australia (92-1) beat Ireland (91 all out) by nine wickets with 37.4 overs remaining
Easy win for Australia that was never, ever in the slightest bit of doubt. Little else to stay, other than Ricky Ponting's men barely broke sweat in dispatching Ireland, and the gulf of class between the best and the worst sides in the Super Eights was cruelly exposed.

Over 12.2: Rankin is on the spot first up, then Hussey answers the chants from the crowd by pulling a short one high, high over mid-wicket for six to win the game in double quick time for Australia.

Boyd Rankin is back into the attack.

Over 12: Hussey skips down the track to McCallan's third ball and lofts over mid-on for four. Hussey tucks the last ball into the leg-side for a single to retain the strikes, and Australia are just one hit away from victory now.
Australia 86/1 (RR: 7.17): Hussey 23* (39), Symonds 15* (9)
Australia need 6 runs to win from 38 overs at 0.16 runs per over.

Kyle McCallan is into the attack.

Over 11: Johnston starts his next over with a wide outside off, and follows it with a no-ball. Hussey drives to the covers and immediately calls for a single, but Kevin O'Brien makes a great stop and very nearly runs Symonds out as he scampers through for the single. Johnston slides down the leg side for another wide, but keeps the last ball of the over tight.
Australia 81/1 (RR: 7.36): Hussey 19* (33), Symonds 15* (9)
Australia need 11 runs to win from 39 overs at 0.28 runs per over.

Over 10: Mooney drops short to Symonds second ball, and the big all-rounder biffs a pull over mid-wicket for four. The next ball is outside off and Symonds drives out to the third man fence, and they scamper through for two. Symonds then drives in the air towards mid-off, where Bray gets his hands to it but can't hold on above his head, and Symonds nicks a couple of runs. Symonds then completes a cracking over by lofting a straight drive over the bowler's - and everyone else's - head for six.
Australia 77/1 (RR: 7.70): Hussey 18* (28), Symonds 15* (7)
Australia need 15 runs to win from 40 overs at 0.38 runs per over.

John Mooney is into the attack for Ireland.

Over 9: Symonds gets off the mark first ball with a whip to mid-wicket, and runs through for a quick single.
Australia 63/1 (RR: 7.00): Hussey 18* (28), Symonds 1* (1)
Australia need 29 runs to win from 41 overs at 0.71 runs per over.

Andrew Symonds is the new batsman.

WICKET!
A Gilchrist b Johnston 34 (25)
Gilchrist whips the first ball of Johnston's second over round the corner for a single. Hussey pushes a quick single into the covers, before Gilchrist tries one expansive drive too many and gets a thin edge on to his stumps. Breakthrough for Ireland.

Over 8: Gilchrist pulls round the corner for a single, and Hussey shows his form is slowly returning with a nice push down the ground that gets him three. Rankin almost sneaks through Gilchrist's defences with one that keeps slightly low, before Gilchrist punches a full one straight back down the ground for four. He takes another single with an insid edhe from the last ball to retain the strike.
Australia 60/0 (RR: 7.50): Gilchrist 33* (23), Hussey 17* (25)
Australia need 32 runs to win from 42 overs at 0.76 runs per over.

Over 7: Johnston's first slips just down the leg-side, and a hopeful appeal from behind the stumps for a catch does the trick in that no wide is signalled. The next ball is on leg-stump and is clipped through mid-wicket for two. Gilchrist clips a single round the corner, before Hussey gets a couple of welcome fours - the first a wide full-toss that is hammered to the point fence, the second a thin leg glance that races to a very fine-leg.
Australia 51/0 (RR: 7.29): Gilchrist 27* (19), Hussey 14* (23)
Australia need 41 runs to win from 43 overs at 0.95 runs per over.

Trent Johnston is into the attack.

Over 6: Rankin slides down the leg-side for another wide, then Hussey misses out on a long-hop, pulling straight to mid-on. Hussey watches the rest of the over like a man struggling for form - exactly what he is at the moment.
Australia 40/0 (RR: 6.67): Gilchrist 24* (16), Hussey 6* (20)
Australia need 52 runs to win from 44 overs at 1.18 runs per over.

Over 5: Gilchrist punches through mid-wicket for a couple first up, before getting a thin leg glance towards the ropes, but Rankin makes a great diving stop to keep them to two. He can't do much about the next two, that Gilchrist smacks through the covers for a couple of fours. Langford-Smith gives him more width next up, that Gilchrist smacks through point for a third consecutive four. Sixteen from the over.
Australia 39/0 (RR: 7.80): Gilchrist 24* (16), Hussey 6* (14)
Australia need 53 runs to win from 45 overs at 1.22 runs per over.

Over 4: Gilchrist does well to get over one that bounces from Rankin, and he steals a quick single to square leg. Rankin bowls a couple of leg-side wides, before Hussey tucks another single to square leg off his hips. Gilchrist is on his toes to the next ball and guides down to third man for another.
Australia 23/0 (RR: 5.75): Gilchrist 8* (10), Hussey 6* (14)
Australia need 69 runs to win from 46 overs at 1.50 runs per over.

Over 3: Langford-Smith gets one to swing, but it swings down the leg-side and a wide is signalled. He gets another to swing in to Gilchrist, but it flicks his pads, beats Gilchrist and goes for four leg-byes. Gilchrist very nearly chops on to his stumps, but it bounces just past the timber and they scramble a single.
Australia 18/0 (RR: 6.00): Gilchrist 6* (8), Hussey 5* (10)
Australia need 74 runs to win from 47 overs at 1.57 runs per over.

Over 2: Rankin is on target with his first four, not allowing Hussey any room at all. He spoils things slightly with a leg-side wide, then Hussey tucks the last ball of the over off his hips for a couple down to fine-leg.
Australia 12/0 (RR: 6.00): Gilchrist 5* (3), Hussey 5* (9)
Australia need 80 runs to win from 48 overs at 1.67 runs per over.

Boyd Rankin will share the new ball for Ireland.

Over 1: Langford-Smith starts off with a leg side wide, then follows it with two full-tosses, the second of which Gilchrist flicks through mid-wicket, but is denied four by a great save on the boundary from McCallan. Hussey edges his first ball past the slips, but another cracking stop - this time from Bray at third man - and they settle fortwo. Hussey takes a quick single to mid-on from a dug-out yorker, then Gilchrist gets a couple with a drive through the covers.
Australia 9/0 (RR: 9.00): Gilchrist 5* (3), Hussey 3* (3)
Australia need 83 runs to win from 49 overs at 1.69 runs per over.

Dave Langford-Smith will open the bowling.

The players are out for Australia's reply, and Mike Hussey has indeed moved up the order, and will open with Adam Gilchrist.

Ireland: 91 all out (30 overs)
Australia need 92 to win at 1.82 runs per over

Despite that last stand that was getting a little annoying for the Australians, that was a thoroughly professional and comprehensive job. Apparently they will be shifting the batting order around, so expect Hussey, or even Symonds to come in first.

WICKET!
J Mooney run out (Tait) 23 (44)
Australia go up wildly for a caught behind chance, but Koertzen says no. Mooney looks to nick the strike from the last ball, but he is well short of his ground as Tait swoops in from mid-off and runs him out with a direct hit at the bowler's end.

Over 29: After prodding at the first three, Mooney plays a nice square drive to the point fence sweeper for a single. Rankin gets a couple from the last ball through mid-wicket, and this partnership is just getting a touch frustrating for Australia.
Ireland 91/9 (RR: 3.14): Mooney 23* (38), Rankin 4* (19)

Over 28: Mooney gets a couple with a nice lapped sweep round the corner, before a wrong'un very traps him in front. Mooney misses with a big swipe next up, before Hogg bowls another wide down leg that Gilchrist misses and they take an additional run.
Ireland 88/9 (RR: 3.14): Mooney 22* (34), Rankin 2* (17)

Over 27: All kinds of problems second ball. Clark bowls a brute that catches Rankin on the chin, and the ball dribbles just past the stumps. Meanwhile, Mooney was halfway down the pitch while Rankin remained stationary, but Ponting's throw to the bowler's end was wild. Another run-out chance next up, as Mooney comes down up the track looking for a quick single. Again the throw is wild - this time from Hussey, and with only one stump to aim at - and they pick up two overthrows.
Ireland 84/9 (RR: 3.11): Mooney 20* (29), Rankin 2* (16)

Stuart Clark is back into the attack.

Over 26: Hogg almost gets Mooney with a short flipper that he nearly pulls straight to mid-wicket. He nearly picks up the final wicket twice more, with a half-decent lbw shout, then one that spins just past the edge.
Ireland 82/9 (RR: 3.15): Mooney 20* (29), Rankin 0* (10)

Over 25: Mooney chops to the cover ropes sweeper for a single. Symonds beats Rankin's edge with three of the remaining five balls, and it's only a matter of time now.
Ireland 82/9 (RR: 3.28): Mooney 20* (23), Rankin 0* (10)

Over 24: Rankin survives a decent lbw shout first up (probably just sliding down leg), then prods uncertainly at the next two. Hogg slides a wide down the leg-side, before beating Rankin's edge with a perfectly pitched chinaman.
Ireland 81/9 (RR: 3.38): Mooney 19* (22), Rankin 0* (5)

Boyd Rankin is the new batsman.

WICKET!
D Langford-Smith c Ponting b Hogg 2 (7)
Langford-Smith - who hasn't looked at all comfortable against Hogg's wrist spin - pushes uncertainly at another that bounced a little more than he expected, and it spoons up to Ponting at silly-point.

Over 23: Mooney edges down to third man for a single from the first of Symonds' latest over, then Langford-Smith steals a single after another edge falls just short of Hayden at slip. Yet another edge takes Ireland past the magic figure, flying just past slip for four.
Ireland 80/8 (RR: 3.48): Mooney 19* (22), Langford-Smith 2* (6)

Over 22: Langford-Smith takes a rapid single from a sweep round the corner, bravely taking on Symonds' arm. Mooney survives a close lbw shout, before pushing another quick single into the covers. Langford-Smith pushes nervously at the last couple, as Ireland inch towards 78 - currently the lowest score of the tournament by Bermuda.
Ireland 74/8 (RR: 3.36): Mooney 14* (18), Langford-Smith 1* (4)

Over 21:
Ireland 72/8 (RR: 3.43): Mooney 13* (16), Langford-Smith 0* (0)

Dave Langford-Smith is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K McCallan c Tait b Symonds 5 (18)
Today Symonds is opting for his medium-pace dobbers, the first few of which McCallan deals with quite nicely. He looks for singles from a couple of balls, before spooning the last ball of the over high, high into the air for Tait to take a decent catch running backwards from mid-on.

Andrew Symonds is into the attack.

Over 20: After one sneaks through Mooney's defences and narrowly misses the stumps, he takes a quick single past slip with an edge along the ground. McCallan sweeps the last ball of the over for a single.
Ireland 72/7 (RR: 3.60): McCallan 5* (12), Mooney 13* (16)

Brad Hogg is into the attack.

Over 19: McCallan keeps a decent Tait yorker out first up, before taking a quick single from a push into the covers. Tait comes round the wicket, and celebrates by bouncing Mooney, but it not only flies over the batsman but past Gilchrist as well, and they run two to add to the wide. Mooney drives square, and a good half-stop from Symonds saves a boundary, and they settle for two. The next ball is an action replay, but this time it's wide of Symonds and it races to the fence. The final ball of the over is shorter, and Mooney pushes into the covers for a single.
Ireland 70/7 (RR: 3.68): McCallan 4* (9), Mooney 12* (13)

Over 18: Clark beats Mooney's outside edge first ball with a cracking delivery that nipped away just enough to confuse the batsman. Mooney defends the remainder of the over, which is Clark's first maiden.
Ireland 59/7 (RR: 3.28): McCallan 3* (7), Mooney 5* (9)

Over 17: Mooney gets off the mark somewhat uncertainly, edging low for two between gully and point. He gets three from a much more convincing shot from the last ball of the over, pushing an attempted yorker back down the ground past mid-off.
Ireland 59/7 (RR: 3.47): McCallan 3* (7), Mooney 5* (3)

John Mooney is the new batsman.

WICKET!
T Johnston b Tait 17 (25)
Tait serves up yet another wide first up (that's his eighth of the innings), but beats Johnston's outside edge next ball. Tait and the rest of the Australians go up half-heartedly for an inside edge appeal through to Gilchrist, but nothing is given. Tait pitches the next ball up just outside off, and Johnston definately gets an inside edge on that one, and it crashes into off-stump.

Over 16: Clark persues a new, shorter length to Johnston, given that the Ireland captain has been keen to get after anything full. The first five are bang on, but the last is a leg-stump full-toss that Johnston clips through mid-wicket for three.
Ireland 53/6 (RR: 3.31): Johnston 17* (22), McCallan 3* (7)

Australia take the third and final powerplay.

Over 15: After a short one whistles over his head, McCallan nicely pushes through the covers for a couple. Tait charitably brings up the Irish fifty with a big, short wide outside off. McCallan gets a toe-end to a full one next up, and was rather lucky that didn't dribble back into his stumps.
Ireland 50/6 (RR: 3.33): Johnston 14* (16), McCallan 3* (7)

Shaun Tait is into the attack. Ricky Ponting must be keen to give Ireland a few more runs, if only through wides.

Over 14: McCallan does very well to keep out an excellent yorker first up from Clark, and gets a run down to fine-legfor his troubles. Johnston lustily cuts the next ball over point and it skips to the boundary, despite the less than energetic efforts of McGrath, who ambled round from third man but declined to dive for a very stoppable ball.
Ireland 47/6 (RR: 3.36): Johnston 14* (16), McCallan 1* (1)

Kyle McCallan is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K O'Brien c Hodge b Clark 16 (25)
After getting a bottom edge on the first ball of the over from Clark, O'Brien clips a leg-stump half-volley obligingly straight to Hodge at mid-wicket, who pouches the simplest of catches.

Over 13: Johnston chops down to third man for a couple, before playing a wonderful drive through mid-on for a boundary. Johnstone looks to up the scoring rate further by going for a big square drive, connecting heartily, but a brilliant stop from Michael Clarke at point saves a certain boundary. He gets more reward from the last ball of the over, with a slightly mis-timed drive through the covers for a couple. Good over for the Irish.
Ireland 42/5 (RR: 3.23): K O'Brien 16* (23), Johnston 10* (13)

Over 12: Johnston takes a single from a tuck off his hips behind square, and the rest of the over passes without incident, aside from a speculative waft outside off from O'Brien.
Ireland 34/5 (RR: 2.83): K O'Brien 16* (23), Johnston 2* (7)

Over 11: Johnston gets off the mark from the final ball of the over with a neat guide down to third man for a single.
Ireland 33/5 (RR: 3.00): K O'Brien 16* (21), Johnston 1* (3)

Trent Johnston is the new batsman.

WICKET!
A White c Hogg b McGrath 6 (20)
White clips the first of the over through square leg for a couple, but still looks far from tip-top after that blow in the ninth over. He's then totally bamboozled by a slower ball from McGrath and chips it up in the air over the bowler's head for Brad Hogg to run round from mid-off to take a decent catch.

Australia take the second powerplay.

Over 10: Clark's first ball drifts just down the leg-side, but sensibly umpire Koertzen doesn't call a wide that time. O'Brien times a cover drive beautifully from ball four, but it goes straight to Hussey at mid-off. He makes no such mistake next up, crashing a shorter ball between point and extra-cover to the fence for four.
Ireland 30/4 (RR: 3.00): K O'Brien 16* (21), White 4* (17)

After initially seeming to be OK, White calls for some treatment, and looks groggy to say the least. However, he looks as if he'll be alright to continue.

Over 9: White leaves the first three balls from McGrath, before driving nicely through the covers for a couple. The last ball of McGrath's over is a short one that doesn't bounce quite as much as White expected, and it hammers into the side of his helmet.
Ireland 26/4 (RR: 2.89): K O'Brien 12* (15), White 4* (17)

Over 8: Clark - presumably brought on to stem the flow of extras - starts off with a leg-side wide. O'Brien survives a decent lbw shout, but Koertzen says no on the basis that it was probably just sneaking over leg-stump. Thre rest of the over is predictably on the mark from Clark, and no more runs are scored.
Ireland 24/4 (RR: 3.00): K O'Brien 12* (15), White 2* (11)

Stuart Clark is into the attack.

Over 7: O'Brien gets a quick single with an uncertain prod through square leg. White plays the remainder of the over fairly solidly, until he takes a big swipe and misses a shortish one just outside off.
Ireland 23/4 (RR: 3.29): K O'Brien 12* (9), White 2* (11)

Over 6: Tait beats the bat first up with a ripper outside off, then bowls a big, big wide with a short ball, followed by another down leg. Those three balls just about sum up Tait - hugely threatening when he's on form, but massively erratic at the same time. Another wide follows a couple of yorker-length balls, before Ponting puts down a half-chance diving a long way to his right at third slip. He had hold of that, but it spilled from his grasp as he hit the turf. Tait bowls a snorter of a short ball that turns out to be a no-ball, then yet another wide outside off. O'Brien clips the eleventh ball of the over off his pads through square leg for three, and the over finally comes to a close.
Ireland 22/4 (RR: 3.67): K O'Brien 11* (7), White 2* (7)

Over 5: White almost goes to his second ball, chopping one into the ground that goes millimetres past the stumps. He gets off the mark from the final ball of the over, with a quick pushed single into the covers.
Ireland 13/4 (RR: 2.60): K O'Brien 8* (4), White 1* (3)

Andrew White is the new batsman.

WICKET!
E Morgan c Hayden b McGrath 0 (9)
Morgan goes to the third ball of the fifth over, wafting his bat at McGrath's stock delivery outside off, and edging to Hayden at second slip for a simple catch.

Over 4: Tait just fails to get his hat-trick with a full, swinging ball that is a whisker away from Kevin O'Brien's outside edge. In typical Tait style, he follows two wickets with two wides, then a leg-stump half-volley that O'Brien clips very nicely to the mid-wicket boundary. Tait reminds the batsman who is boss with a nasty short one that O'Brien has little choice but to let hit him, before a repeat of ball four goes to the mid-wicket ropes again. Two wickets and ten runs from that Tait over.
Ireland 12/3 (RR: 3.00): Morgan 0* (6), K O'Brien 8* (4)

Kevin O'Brien is the new batsman.

WICKET!
N O'Brien
b Tait 0 (1)
This could get rather embarrassing. O'Brien falls to his first ball, after O'Brien prods outide off at a full ball from Tait, but only succeeds in clipping an inside edge onto his stumps. Tait on a hat-trick.

Niall O'Brien is the new batsmen.

WICKET!
W Porterfield lbw b Tait 1 (11)
Portefield falls to the first ball of the fourth over, simply beaten by the pace of a Tait ball that pitches on leg and holds its line. Umpire Rudi Koertzen mulls the decision over for a few seconds, before slowly, slowly raising his finger.

Over 3: Morgan deals with his first four balls reasonably well, without really ever looking comfortable. Morgan latches on to a widish one from McGrath with a rasping square drive, but a great stop from Symonds at point saves a certain four.
Ireland 2/1 (RR: 0.67): Porterfield 1* (10), Morgan 0* (6)

Over 2: Tait is right on the spot straight away, with one that climbs steeply outside off stump that whistles past Porterfield's nose. This could be a brief workout for Australia if they continue to bowl like this. Porterfield misses out on a wide full toss from ball three, but the rest of the over has him looking, quite frankly, all over the shop. Maiden for Tait.
Ireland 2/1 (RR: 1.00): Porterfield 1* (10), Morgan 0* (0)

Shaun Tait will share the new ball for Australia.

Eoin Morgan is the new batsman.

Over 1:
Ireland 2/1 (RR: 2.00): Porterfield 1* (4), Morgan 0* (0)

WICKET!
J Bray b McGrath 1 (2)
Ireland get going straight away, with Bray pushing uncertainly at the first ball from McGrath, but gets enough on it to scamper a singleinto the off side. Porterfield plays solidly to his first four balls, getting off the mark with a quick single into the covers from the fourth. Bray is then late on a McGrath yorker that clips the outside of off stump, and Ireland are one down already.

Glenn McGrath will take the new ball for Australia.

Jeremy Bray and William Porterfield will open the batting for Ireland.

The players are out on to the Kensington Oval field, where - barring the biggest upset in cricketing history - Australia should book their place in the semi-final

Teams:

Australia: Hayden, Gilchrist (wkt), Ponting (capt), Clarke, Symonds, Hussey, B Hodge, Hogg, Clark, Tait, McGrath

Ireland: Bray, Porterfield, Morgan, N O'Brien (wkt), K O'Brien, Johnston (capt), White, McCallan, Langford-Smith, Mooney, Rankin.

Australia make one change from the team that coasted past England at the weekend - Stuart Clark comes in to make his World Cup debut in place of Nathan Bracken.

Afternoon. Australia know that if they win as expected today then they secure their place in the semi-finals of the World Cup, and they look as if they want to get it wrapped up as soon as possible - Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bowl first.