Tucker leads Ireland to big win over Austria

Lorcan Tucker scored an unbeaten 94 as Ireland posted their highest T20 international total ever to make it three wins in as many matches in the ICC T20 World Cup Europe qualifiers with a 128-run victory over Austria at the Grange Cricket Club.

Tucker's innings was a career best T20I score, while Neil Rock’s quickfire 36 was his highest total in the format and Mark Adair took career-best T20I figures of 4-13.

It was also Ireland’s biggest ever margin of victory in T20Is – beating the previous best of 98-runs against Scotland in 2017.

Captain Paul Stirling lost his third straight toss and Ireland were sent in to bat first.

There was one change to the starting line-up, as Ireland took to the field without Andrew Balbirnie, after he was ruled out of the game as a precaution after picking up a slight niggle in the warm-up. Ross Adair came in to replace him alongside Stirling at the top of the order.

Austria came into the game off the back of heavy defeats to Germany and Jersey, while Ireland had back-to-back victories over Italy and Denmark.

In cold and windy conditions, Austria started with their spinner Amit Nathwani – while his opening delivery surprised Ross Adair and almost knocked over the Northern Knights’ opener, Adair proceeded to smash his second delivery for six towards long on giving impetus to the Irish batting assault.

Austria did manage an early breakthrough when their captain Razmal Shigiwal claimed a great catch off Nathwani’s bowling in the third over to end Stirling’s innings on nine. However, Adair and Tucker then combined well as Ireland moved on to 75-1 at the end of the power play.

Their partnership of 65 ended when Adai, on 46, was beaten by a brilliant yorker from left-arm medium pacer Abdullah Akbarjan.

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