Benoni, Sept 27:
Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith shared an unbeaten 126-run partnership as Australia romped to a nine-wicket win in a one-day international against Ireland at Willowmoore Park today.
Khawaja made 82 not out and Smith an unbeaten 59 as Australia chased down a modest target of 199 with 19.5 overs to spare.
It was a second heavy defeat in a row for Ireland, who lost by 206 runs against South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, but set the scene for what Smith expects to be a tough five-match one-day series between South Africa and Australia, starting at Centurion on Friday.
Ireland let slip a promising start, collapsing from 121 for two in the 24th over to 198 all out.
The solid foundation laid by William Porterfield (24), Paul Stirling (30) and John Anderson (39) was destroyed when they lost three wickets for two runs in the space of seven balls.
Anderson was leg before wicket to Scott Boland before new cap Daniel Worrall claimed his first international wicket when he had Gary Wilson caught behind.
Worrall appealed unsuccessfully for leg before wicket when his next ball struck Sean Terry on the pad. But a careless Terry did not get back into his crease and the ball deflected to Smith, whose throw from slip ran out the new batsman.(PTI)
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