Australia vs Ireland HIGHLIGHTS T20 World Cup 2026: All-round Ausise thrash Ireland in Colombo

The Australian cricket team, despite losing skipper Mitchell Marsh to injury ahead of the game, put forth a dominant performance in match 14 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against Ireland at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, as the Aussie side beat the Irish side in a one-sided contest by 67 runs to start their campaign on a high.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Ireland struck early as Mark Adair dismissed Travis Head (6 runs off 7 balls) in the second over. Cameron Green (21 runs off 11 balls), with a fiery cameo, put Australia back on track before also losing his wicket to Mark Adair.

Josh Inglis (37 runs off 17 balls) then lost his wicket to George Dockrell before Harry Tector dismissed Glenn Maxwell (9 runs off 9 balls) to push Australia on the back foot. However, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis then stitched a brisk half-century stand for the fifth wicket to put Australia's innings back on track.

Matthew Humphreys ended the fifth-wicket stand on 61 after dismissing Matt Renshaw (37 runs off 33 balls). Marcus Stoinis (45 runs off 29 balls) missed his half-century after being dismissed by Mark Adair. In the end, Cooper Connolly (11 not out off 8 balls) and Xavier Bartlett (11 not out off 6 balls) added crucial 23 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia finished their innings at 182 for 6.

In reply, Ireland suffered early setbacks as Matthew Kuhnemann dismissed Harry Tector (0 runs off 3 balls) and Nathan Ellis dismissed Ross Adair (12 runs off 9 balls), Curtis Campher (4 runs off 2 balls) and Benjamin Calitz (2 runs off 4 balls) to put the Irish side on the back foot.

Adam Zampa, right after the powerplay, dismissed Gareth Delany (11 runs off 12 balls) to send half the Irish side back on just 43 runs. Lorcan Tucker (24 runs off 27 balls) kept the fight alive for a while before also losing his wicket to Adam Zampa

George Dockrell (41 runs off 29 balls) played a fiery innings before once again falling to Adam Zampa, who two balls later dismissed Mark Adair (12 runs off 6 balls) as Ireland’s hopes of winning the match started to dwindle

Nathan Ellis then came back into the attack with his final over and dismissed Barry McCarthy (2 runs off 4 balls) to bundle Ireland out on 115 and hand Australia a big 67-run win.

Australia vs Ireland, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 full scorecards

Australia scorecard:

Ireland scorecard: 

Stubbs take Proteas over the line

The Afghanistan cricket team experienced heartbreak at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today in match 13 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as they were beaten by South Africa in a thrilling double Super Over game. Afghanistan were bundled out with the scores level, which pushed the game to a Super Over. With South Africa needing 7 runs off the last ball of the super over, it was Tristan Stubbs who hit a flat six off the final ball of South Africa’s innings, forcing the game into a second Super Over.

The second Super Over produced more drama, as South Africa posted a mammoth target of 24 for Afghanistan, thanks to powerful hitting by David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. In reply, Rahmanullah Gurbaz didn’t hold back and produced what was almost a sensational winning cameo, hitting 3 sixes in a row after Mohammad Nabi lost his wicket. With 6 runs needed off the last ball, a wide ball was followed by a wicket for the Proteas, who held their nerve to win the tie in the second Super Over.

Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. South Africa lost their first wicket early when Aiden Markram (5 runs off 8 balls) was dismissed by Fazalhaq Farooqi while trying to clear the long-on boundary.

Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton then built a half-century stand to help South Africa get back in command. De Kock brought up his 19th T20I half-century in 34 balls, taking the team's total past 100. Rickelton followed suit, bringing up his first T20I World Cup half-century in just 23 balls, taking the second-wicket partnership with de Kock past 100. Rashid Khan finally broke the stand by removing de Kock (59 runs off 41 balls), and two balls later, he dismissed Ryan Rickelton (61 runs off 28 balls), as South Africa lost both set batters in the same over.

Dewald Brevis (23 runs off 19 balls) played a brisk knock to take South Africa past the 150-mark before losing his wicket to Azmatullah Omarzai. Two balls later, Omarzai got Tristan Stubbs (1 run off 2 balls) caught at short fine leg, as South Africa lost their fifth wicket.

In the end, David Miller (20 not out off 15 balls) and Marco Jansen (16 runs off 7 balls) stitched together a crucial 28-run stand to take South Africa’s innings total to 187/6 after 20 overs.

In reply, Afghanistan got off to a flying start, adding 50 runs in just four overs before Lungi Ngidi dismissed Ibrahim Zadran (12 runs off 10 balls), giving South Africa the much-needed breakthrough. Gulbadin Naib (0 runs off 2 balls) failed to make an impact and also lost his wicket to Ngidi in the same over.

Sediquallah Atal (0 runs off 3 balls) was dismissed by Rabada in the very next over, as South Africa gained control of the match. Gurbaz, on the other hand, kept striking big and brought up his half-century in just 26 balls.

Gurbaz’s innings finally came to an end on 84 runs off 42 balls when he lost his wicket to Keshav Maharaj, who two balls later ran out Darwish Rasooli (15 runs off 18 balls).

George Linde then took another big wicket in the form of Mohammad Nabi (5 runs off 6 balls), as the match continued to hang in the balance. Lungi Ngidi struck for the third time, getting the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai (22 runs off 17 balls), leaving Afghanistan needing 24 runs off 12 balls.

Rashid Khan (20 runs off 12 balls) lost his wicket to Marco Jansen, who then ran out Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0 runs off 1 ball), pushing Afghanistan to the verge of an all-out defeat. Noor Ahmad (15 runs off 8 balls) took Afghanistan to the verge of a win, but they needed 2 runs off the last three balls. However, Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out while attempting the second run, as the Proteas pushed the match to a Super Over.

First Super Over: Stubbs Pulls off Another Tie

 Afghanistan set the tone in the Super Over with a strong 17/0 against Lungi Ngidi, powered by Azmatullah Omarzai’s aggressive strokeplay. He began with a boundary and followed it up with a towering six, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz chipped in with a single to keep the scoreboard moving. Azmatullah finished with another four and a run off the final ball to give Afghanistan a challenging total.

South Africa’s reply was dramatic. David Miller started with a single before Dewald Brevis launched a massive six. However, Brevis fell to Fazalhaq Farooqi’s clever slower-ball bouncer. Tristan Stubbs then kept the chase alive with a streaky boundary but faced mounting pressure after a crucial dot ball. With six needed off the last delivery, Farooqi missed his yorker, and Stubbs produced a stunning flat-batted six over long-off, forcing yet another Super Over in a breathtaking finish. Second Super Over: Heartbreak for Afghanistan The second Super Over produced even more drama as South Africa raised the stakes with a commanding 23 runs. Tristan Stubbs set the tone by launching Azmatullah Omarzai for a six first ball, before David Miller took charge, smashing back-to-back sixes and finishing strongly to give the Proteas a daunting target. Afghanistan’s reply began nervously when Mohammad Nabi fell early to a sharp catch by Miller at backward point. Rahmanullah Gurbaz then ignited hope with three consecutive sixes off Keshav Maharaj, bringing the equation down to six off the final ball and threatening yet another Super Over. However, Maharaj held his nerve as Gurbaz miscued a wide full delivery straight to backward point, sealing a remarkable victory for South Africa in a breathtaking contest.

South Africa vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026 full scorecards

South Africa scorecard:

Afghanistan scorecard: