 Australia rout Ireland to reach World Cup semi-finals
14th Apr 2007 12:31 IST
Agencies
Defending champion Australia marched into the World Cup semifinal with another lopsided victory in Barbados on Friday, pushing Ireland aside by nine wickets after bowling the mainly amateur side out for 91.
Having comfortably beaten better sides than the last place Irish in the Super 8s, Ricky Ponting's team could have taken it easy against an emerging team which has reached this stage in cricket's premier one-day competition for the first time.
But that's not the Australian way.
Within a few minutes of the opening delivery at Kensington Oval, the Irish were reeling at 3/2. Soon it became 4/12 and only some token defiance by Kevin O Brien (16 runs), captain Trent Johnston (17) and John Mooney (23) stopped the Irish heading for the record books as championship low scorers – Canada scored 36 all out against Sri Lanka in 2003.
Though wayward with 11 wides, Shaun Tait took 3/39 and almost had a hat-trick in his second over while the dependable Glenn McGrath finished with 3/17.
With only 92 runs to get, Ponting gave out-of-touch Michael Hussey time in the middle by promoting him to opener and he and Adam Gilchrist raced to 62 inside nine overs before the only Australian wicket fell.
Gilchrist was out for 34, beaten by a standout delivery from Johnston that nipped back to strike middle stump and the Australian-born Irish captain danced a jig of delight.
Andrew Symonds was also pushed up the order to score 15 off nine balls and Hussey went on to make 30 not out, finishing the match with a six over midwicket.
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