AFP, Belfast :
Australia captain Steven Smith described his side’s rain-affected victory over Ireland as a “good work-out” ahead of the five-match one-day international series against England which starts next week.
The squad now head to Cardiff for a lone Twenty20 international against England in the Welsh capital on Monday, but Smith was happy “all the boys got what they needed” from the game in Belfast.
Australia, in their first ODI since beating New Zealand in the World Cup final in Melbourne in March, posted 222 for six in a first innings cut short by rain to 40.2 overs.
Man-of-the-match David Warner made 84 and Joe Burns, on his ODI debut, 69 as the openers put on 139 for the first wicket before Ireland, cricket’s leading non-Test nation, fought back with the ball.
Further rain interruptions left Ireland with a revised target of 181 in 24 overs.
Australia captain Steven Smith described his side’s rain-affected victory over Ireland as a “good work-out” ahead of the five-match one-day international series against England which starts next week.
The squad now head to Cardiff for a lone Twenty20 international against England in the Welsh capital on Monday, but Smith was happy “all the boys got what they needed” from the game in Belfast.
Australia, in their first ODI since beating New Zealand in the World Cup final in Melbourne in March, posted 222 for six in a first innings cut short by rain to 40.2 overs.
Man-of-the-match David Warner made 84 and Joe Burns, on his ODI debut, 69 as the openers put on 139 for the first wicket before Ireland, cricket’s leading non-Test nation, fought back with the ball.
Further rain interruptions left Ireland with a revised target of 181 in 24 overs.
