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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Ireland Men lost their second game at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by 67 runs when they were defeated by the 2021 champions.

After losing the toss at the Premadasa Stadium, Ireland began well in the field when they had stand-in Australia captain Travis Head run out from a combined effort by Mark Adair and Ben Calitz in the second over.

Mark Adair then struck in the final ball of the fifth over when Cameron Green miscued one to give George Dockrell a diving catch at cover.

Playing in his 350th game for Ireland across formats, Dockrell then struck to have Josh Inglis caught by a diving Paul Stirling with the dismissal almost identical to when the left arm spinner removed Sri Lanka’s Nissanka in their previous Group B game.

The wicket of Glenn Maxwell by Harry Tector from a smart Lorcan Tucker catch behind in the 10th over helped to stall the Australia innings. However, a considerable partnership of 61 between Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis eventually put them into the ascendancy once again. 

Matthew Humphreys’ first World Cup wicket when he bowled Renshaw in the 17th over, and the dismissal of Stoinis by Mark Adair, caught by Calitz in the deep, helped to stem the flow of runs at the backend but in spite of late wickets, the Aussies amassed a formidable 182-6.

Ireland’s chase got off to a difficult start when Stirling had to retire hurt due to an injury he sustained earlier in the field. The chasing effort was then set back further when Harry Tector, Ross Adair and Curtis Campher were removed not long after with Ireland in a perilous position at 27-4.

Caltiz’s dismissal near the end of the powerplay added to Ireland’s uphill task, but an aggressive partnership of 46 for the seventh wicket between Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell briefly gave the chasing side hope.

However, the wickets of Tucker (24), Dockrell (41) and then Mark Adair (12) eventually spelled the end of Ireland’s challenge in their second match in Group B at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as they fell 67 runs short.

Next up Ireland face Oman on Saturday (14 February 2026).

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Men v Australia Men, 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka, 11 February 2026

AUSTRALIA 182-6 (20 overs; M Stoinis  45; M Adair 2-44, H Tector 1-24)
IRELAND 115 (16.5 overs; G Dockrell 41, L Tucker 24; N Ellis 4-12)

Ireland lost by 67 runs

Scorecard here