Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took four wickets apiece as Australia opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a comfortable 67-run victory over Ireland.

Australia, who triumphed at the 2021 edition of this event, won the toss and elected to bat first in Colombo, but lost captain Travis Head (6) to a run out at the start of the second over.

Josh Inglis, opening the batting in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, impressed with a 17-ball 37, but wickets fell regularly and the innings looked in jeopardy when Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for just 9, leaving Australia at 88-4 in the 10th over.

Marcus Stoinis (45) and Matt Renshaw (37) steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership before Cooper Connolly (11 not out) and Xavier Bartlett (11no) saw the Aussies up to 182-6, a strong total on a slow wicket.

Ireland's reply immediately looked doomed with skipper Paul Stirling having to retire hurt after injuring himself while hitting a single off the first ball.

Stirling could then only watch on as his side collapsed to 43-5, with Ellis (4-12) removing Ross Adair (12), Curtis Campher (4) and Ben Calitz (2) in a superb spell.

George Dockrell (41) and wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker (24) showed some resistance for Ireland with a 46-run stand, but a successful chase never looked likely and both were accounted for by spinner Zampa, who went on to record figures of 4-23.

Australia begin https://t.co/XyF5850xB5 pic.twitter.com/UBPbPz1HRH

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 11, 2026

Data Debrief: Zampa helps Australia return to form

This was a welcome victory for Australia, who came into the match having lost their last five T20Is and under pressure after enduring difficult preparation for the tournament.

Ireland suffered their seventh consecutive loss at the T20 World Cup, which is now their outright longest losing run in the history of their participation at the event. Having lost to co-hosts Sri Lanka in their opener, there is now huge pressure on their match against Oman on Saturday.

Zampa's display, meanwhile, saw him move up to 40 career wickets at the T20 World Cup, which puts him in a tie for second place with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga.

That spin trio are 10 wickets behind the overall leader, Bangladesh great Shakib Al Hasan (50).