USMAN Khawaja and Adam Zampa starred for Australia as they claimed an emphatic nine-wicket one-day international win over Ireland yesterday.Zampa continued his fantastic form in limited-overs cricket, taking 3-37 – his second-best figures in the 50-over format – as Ireland were bowled out for 198 in Benoni.
Australia had no difficulty in cantering to victory, losing just one wicket in pursuit of their target. Khawaja led the way with an unbeaten 82, while captain Steven Smith was 59 not out.
Khawaja hit the winning run with 119 balls still remaining, Australia producing a dominant performance going into the ODI series with South Africa, which starts on Friday in Centurion.
Ireland captain William Porterfield (24) and Paul Stirling (30) put on 47 for the opening wicket before the latter fell to Scott Boland (2-42), who accounted for John Anderson (39) after Zampa struck to remove the skipper.
Anderson’s dismissal was the first of three in seven deliveries as Gary Wilson (14) edged ODI debutant Daniel Worrall (1-43) to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and Sean Terry paid the price for wandering from his crease following an lbw shout as he was run-out for a duck, thanks to some quick thinking from Smith.
That bizarre exit left Ireland on 123-5 and, though the lower order provided some resistance, the collapse was completed as the last wicket fell with 37 balls to spare.
Khawaja and David Warner attacked from the start of Australia’s reply, scoring at a rate of more than eight-an-over in an opening stand of 73 before Warner (48) was caught-and-bowled by Tim Murtagh (1-21).
But there was no further joy for the Ireland attack as Khawaja and Smith combined for 126, the former racking up eight fours and two maximums in an innings that marked his fourth ODI half-century and clipping a single to leg side to seal victory.

(Omnisport.com)