Hopes shines as rusty Australia see off Ireland

DUBLIN, (Reuters) – Australia survived a spirited  Ireland run chase to secure an unconvincing 39-run victory in a  one-day international yesterday.

The Irish reached 80 without loss chasing Australia’s total  of 231 for nine but James Hopes took five wickets to halt their  momentum and the hosts subsided to 192 all out at the Clontarf  Cricket Club.

Medium-pacer Hopes completed figures of five for 14 off nine  overs after William Porterfield and Paul Stirling had given  Ireland a fine start with bright knocks of 39 and 36.

Stirling eventually lost his leg stump to Ryan Harris and  Porterfield was dismissed by Nathan Hauritz.

John Mooney struck a late 38 for Ireland but the damage had  been done as they slumped from 80 without loss to 156 for nine.

Opener Tim Paine was Australia’s top run scorer with 81 from  122 balls and captain Ricky Ponting made 33. Australia never  really dominated reland’s attack, however, and needed a punchy  42 from Cameron White to post a testing target.

Kevin O’Brien was the pick of Ireland’s bowlers, taking  three wickets for 43 runs.

The world champion Australians face England in a five-match  one-day series starting on Tuesday.     

Scoreboard

Australia
S.Watson c Wilson b Rankin                              13
T.Paine c N O’Brien b K O’Brien                        81
R.Ponting c White b Stirling                              33
M.Clarke st Wilson b Cusack                                0
C.White c Porterfield b Stirling                        42
M.Hussey c N O’Brien b K O’Brien                     8
J.Hopes b Rankin                                                   12
N.Hauritz c N O’Brien b K O’Brien                   19
R.Harris c Mooney b Cusack                               6
C.McKay not out                                                      4
Extras lb-6, w-6, nb-1                                         13
Total (9 wickets; 50 overs)                            231
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-86, 3-86, 4-152, 5-186, 6-194, 7-       218, 8-222, 9-231
Bowling: Rankin 10-1-45-2, Johnston 5-1-21-0, K O’Brien  10-1-43-3, Connell 5-0-37-0, Cusack 8-0-38-2, Stirling  10-0-34-2, White 2-0-7-0.

Ireland
W.Porterfield b Hauritz                                   39
P.Stirling b Harris                                              36
G.Wilson lbw b Harris                                         4
N.O’Brien c Paine b Hauritz                           15
A.Cusack lbw b Hopes                                     30
K.O’Brien c Paine b Hopes                                5
A.White c Paine b Hopes                                   4
J.Mooney c Ponting b Watson                     38
D.Johnston b Hopes                                            1
P.Connell lbw b Hopes                                       0
W.Rankin not out                                                 3
Extras lb-3, w-11, nb-3                                   17
Total (all out; 42 overs)                               192
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-86, 3-86, 4-137, 5-139, 6-146,  7-  150, 8-156, 9-156, 10-192
Bowling: Bollinger 6-0-30-0, Harris 7-0-40-2, McKay  6-0-39-0, Hauritz 10-0-40-2, Hopes 9-1-14-5, Watson 4-0-26-1.