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Veteran Paul Stirling was injured and did not bat. With Mitchell Marsh sidelined with a groin injury and senior quick Mitchell Starc retired, plus Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood unavailable due to injury, Ellis stepped in as the leader of the attack. He struck early, bowled Ross Adair at slip before Ben Calitz pulled him back onto his stumps against blistering pace and bounce. His opening spell was 3 for 9 in three overs. Zampa then tightened Australia’s grip, although George Dockrell’s 41 off 29 balls saw Ireland cross the 100-run mark. Ellis came back to get his fourth goal to seal the game. Earlier, Australia posted 182 for 6 after being dispatched on a slow surface. Josh Inglis (37) and Cameron Green (21) set the pace ahead of Matthew Renshaw (37) and Marcus Stoinis (45) who combined for a decisive 61 runs. Ireland’s spinners bowled in order, but wasted chances proved costly. After Travis Head was relieved in the first and then run out in the second, Inglis and Green struck quickly. Green hit towering sixes before falling to mid-wicket while Inglis was dismissed after a stunning diving catch from Stirling. Harry Tector removed Glenn Maxwell, but Renshaw and Stoinis gradually rebuilt before Humphreys dropped Renshaw. Stoinis soon followed, despite a strong six. Ireland conceded 53 runs in the last five overs as Australia sealed an emphatic start.