India, Feb. 12 -- P1acer Nathan Ellis set the tone with a three-wicket burst in his opening spell as an under-strength Australia demolished Ireland by 67 runs in their opening group B fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday. If Ellis (4/12 in 3.5 overs) blew away the top-order, leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4/23 in 4 overs) polished off the middle and lower-order with Ireland innings ending at 115 for 9 in 16.5 overs in pursuit of a challenging score of 183. Veteran Paul Stirling was retired hurt and didn't come out to bat.

With Mitchell Marsh all but out of T20 World Cup with a groin injury and none among Mitchell Starc (retired), Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood (injuries) in the current squad, Ellis manfully shouldered the responsibili...