Final result
Australia won by 67 runs
Player of the match: NT Ellis
Result · T20 Internationals
Australia vs Ireland Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 189Chase success · 48%POTM · NT Ellis
Match preview & overview
Australia brush aside Ireland by 67 runs in Colombo T20I
Australia beat Ireland by 67 runs in a T20 international at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 11 February 2026. Winning the toss and batting first, Australia posted 182 for 6 across their 20 overs. Ireland's reply never got going: they lost 5 wickets in the powerplay for just 40 runs, and from that position the chase was beyond them. They were bowled out for 115. Nathan Ellis took the Player of the Match award for a bowling performance that repeatedly broke Irish resistance.
The margin of 67 runs suggests a comfortable win, and it was, though Australia's batting only scratched the surface of what this ground usually produces. The Premadasa averages 189 in the first innings across 176 T20 matches, putting Australia's 182 slightly below par. Ireland's batting, however, made the total look ample from the third over onwards.
For Ireland, the defeat extends a difficult run in this format. Of eight T20I meetings with Australia, they are still waiting for a first win. Seven of those contests have ended with Australia on top.
Pitch report & venue insights
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — 176-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2005–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
176
T20 matches hosted
189
Avg 1st-innings score
161
Avg 2nd-innings score
48%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
34%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Ireland's powerplay collapse decided the match
Ireland lost 5 wickets in the powerplay while scoring just 40 runs, making the 183-run target effectively unreachable inside the first six overs. By contrast, Australia had raced to 64 for 2 in their own powerplay. The match was settled long before the final ball.
Angle 02
Australia posted below-par despite 182/6
Angle 03
NT Ellis took Player of the Match honours
Angle 04
Australia's head-to-head dominance continues
Angle 05
Death overs exposed Ireland's lower order
Key players
Players who decided it
Australia Cricket
NT Ellis
Sri Lanka (venue context)
PWH de Silva
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets could offer more value than outright result lines in Australia vs Ireland fixtures, given Australia's individual performers have consistently dominated these meetings.
- Total runs markets may be worth examining at R. Premadasa: the venue averages 189 in the first innings across 176 matches, but Ireland's collapse to 115 shows team quality can suppress scores significantly below venue norms.
- Powerplay wickets markets are worth contextualising here: Ireland lost 5 top-order wickets inside the first 6 overs, suggesting first-innings pressure markets could be relevant in similar fixtures.
- Chase success at this ground sits at 48% across 176 matches, meaning the toss and conditions carry genuine weight in any future T20I at Premadasa.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Australia vs Ireland Cricket
Who won the Australia vs Ireland T20I in Colombo in February 2026?
Australia won by 67 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium on 11 February 2026. Australia posted 182 for 6 batting first, then bowled Ireland out for 115 in reply.
Who won Player of the Match in the Australia vs Ireland T20I?
NT Ellis (Nathan Ellis) was named Player of the Match. His bowling performance was central to Ireland being dismissed for 115, well short of the 183-run target.
What is Australia's head-to-head record against Ireland in T20Is?
Australia have won 7 of the 8 T20I meetings between the two sides, with one no-result. Ireland have not yet beaten Australia in this format.
Where to watch Australia T20I matches in the UK?
Most Australia T20I fixtures are broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Check Sky's schedule for confirmed listings ahead of any fixture.
How did Ireland bat in the T20I against Australia in Colombo?
Ireland's chase fell apart almost immediately. They lost 5 wickets in the powerplay while scoring just 40 runs, and were eventually bowled out for 115. Only the middle overs provided any resistance, with 64 runs added for the loss of 2 wickets before the lower order collapsed in the death.
What is the average score at R. Premadasa Stadium in T20 matches?
Across 176 T20 matches at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the average first-innings score is 189 and the average second-innings score is 161. Sides batting first win approximately 52% of the time based on the ground's chase success rate of 48%.
Explore more
Dig deeper into the season
Photo credits (1)
- Wanindu Hasaranga — photo by 04 ATM 04, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source