Emergent Ireland look to derail the Australian juggernaut

**Australia v Ireland**WT20 Match 6
National Stadium, Providence, Guyana
16:00 local (20:00 GMT)

After dispatching Pakistan by 52 runs on day one of the tournament, Meg Lanning’s Australian side will feel in good spirits going into their second group game, against tournament outsiders Ireland.

The openers Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy will again be in the spotlight. Both began with assured knocks of 48 in a rambunctious opening partnership of 72 in eight overs against Pakistan.

“Thankfully we didn’t have to run too much, in the heat!” joked Mooney afterwards. But despite the victory, she believes the team have yet to fully fire.

“We’re still a bit lacking in the field,” she said. “There were a couple of miscommunications early on. But we’re not far off. It’s important that moving forward we’re improving every day.”

While Australia will be eyeing the final at Antigua on 24 November, the Irish will have more modest aims. Having lost all four of their matches at the 2016 edition, they will be targeting an upset or two this time around.

Anything beyond that would be something of a shock given the ease with which they were beaten by Bangladesh in the final of the qualifying tournament.

The uncapped 24-year-old leg-spinner Celeste Raack, who has played most of her cricket in Australia, including for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes, is the notable pick.

Raack, who declared herself for Ireland recently, was thrilled to get the call-up for the marquee event.

“I am very excited and honoured to have been selected for Ireland for the World Cup,” she said. “I am hoping that this will be the start of a long career as an Irish cricketer and intend on relocating for the start of the 2019 cricket season.”

The squad includes stalwarts like Laura Delany, the captain, Kim Garth, Joyce sisters Cecelia and Isobel, Ciara Metcalfe and Clare Shillington, as well as members of the ICC Global Development Squad Shauna Kavanagh, Lucy O’Reilly and the brilliant young batter, Gaby Lewis.

Key players:

**Megan Schutt (Australia):**The batters may get the plaudits, but Schutt’s nagging medium pacers set the tone with the ball. She was typically parsimonious against Pakistan, going for just 13 runs for her four overs, while adding two more wickets to an international career that’s already brought her 129 scalps. Aged just 25, she’s still just getting going.

Gaby Lewis (Ireland): Aged just 17, the elegant right-hander has already registered two T20I fifties and is being touted as the greatest female batter her country has produced.

Conditions:

There is a chance of an early morning shower in Georgetown, but thereafter it should be clear with sunny spells. Perfect cricket-watching weather!

Squads:

**Australia:**Meg Lanning (c), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

**Ireland:**Laura Delaney (c), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Amy Kenealy, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Lucy O’Reilly, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron