Shane Watson came out with a stupendous all-round performance to help Australia record a comfortable 7-wicket win against Ireland in a Group B match of the ICC T20 WC 2012 played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today (19).
Watson hammered 51 off 30 balls after claiming three top Ireland wickets to steer Australia to their winning target, 124 losing just three wickets with 29 balls to spare.
Watson also hit five fours and three sixes during his knock while his opener partner David Warner contributed with a 23-ball 26 which included four boundaries.
Earlier in the day Watson and Mitchell Starc restricted Ireland to 123-7 after being put into field.
Ireland experienced an early blow when Watson claimed the wicket of Ireland skipper William Porterfield in the very first ball of the innings.
Ireland were further dumped into trouble then they lost four top wickets for 33 before the O’Brien brothers put on 52 runs for the fifth wicket.
Niall O’Brien who made 20 in 24 balls was clean bowled by Watson at 85 who returned to claim the wicket of Kevin for 35 two deliveries later in the 15th over.
Kevin O’Brien made his 35 from 29 balls with five boundaries to his account.
Watson finished with figures of 3 for 26 and Starc took 2 for 20.
Ireland 123 for 7 wickets (20) (Ed Joyce 16, Niall O’Brien 20, Kevin O’Brien 35, Alex Cusack 15n.o, Nigel Jones 14n.o, Shane Watson 3/26, Mitchell Starc 2/20, Glenn Maxwell 1/12, Brad Hogg 1/22)
Australia 125 for 3 wickets (15.1) (David Warner 26, Shane Watson 51, Cameron White 22n.o, Kevin O’Brien 1/18, George Dockrell 1/31)
