Australia demolish Ireland at Women's World T20, with Alyssa Healy blasting half-century

Australia has torn Ireland to shreds in a controversial women's World Twenty20 group clash, with the modest chase easily wrapped up by a rampaging Alyssa Healy.

Alyssa Healy posted the fastest half century in World T20 history and the second fastest ever as Australia disposed of women’s cricket minnow Ireland in a controversial clash at Georgetown.

Healy blasted a 21-ball half-century, bringing up the milestone with a brutish six over long on to continue her golden form with the bat as Australia cruised to a nine wicket win with 65 balls to spare.

Healy hit nine fours and a six to finish unbeaten on 56 (off 31 balls) and earn player-of-the-match honours as Australia chalked up their second win of the tournament.

Her performance followed the brilliant bowling effort of Ellyse Perry (2-12), who sparked a collapse of 5-15 as the Aussies restricted Ireland to just 6-93 - a modest target which was made even more straightforward after Ireland's captain Laura Delany was controversially issued a five-run penalty for running on the pitch.

Alyssa Healy blasted a quick-fire half-century. Picture: Getty

SCROLL DOWN TO RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION IN OUR MATCH BLOG

CANNED: POMS COP DRAW THANKS TO RAIN

TOO GOOD: AUSSIES CRUSH PAKISTAN

PERRY PERFECT

Star all rounder Ellyse Perry has been put down the batting order to No. 7 and the joke she’s got “pad rash” from never getting a hit is probably getting a bit old to her.

So on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT) she made her mark with the ball, showing her true class.

A no ball with her first delivery was quickly forgotten as Perry disposed of the Irish top order.

Ellyse Perry ripped it up, taking two wickets to crush Ireland's spirits. Picture: Getty

Her two wickets came the same way, the batters beaten for pace while attempting ramp shots to lift the tempo after Australia had tightened the screws with economical bowling.

She took 2-2 in two overs - and finished with 2-12 off four.

And coach Matthew Mott even gave her a bat as a reward.

Perry was elevated to  No.3 as the Aussies dominated the Irish. How lucky’s she?

PRECIOUS PITCH PENALTY

The umpires were fiercely protective of the pitch in scenes many had never seen before.

Ireland captain Laura Delany was handed a five-run penalty after she appeared to take just three steps down the wicket in what can now must be called the “over” protected area.

The Pakistan players copped it too, with their batters slugged ten runs for the same offence.

The Aussies batted second and their exaggerated movement to the side to avoid punishment was almost comical.

“In (Australia's) first game they had said something but there was no penalty runs and obviously (in India-Pakistan) there was 10, which was pretty crazy,” Australian No. 3 Ashleigh Gardner said.

“I've never seen that. (captain) Meg (Lanning) just pulled us into a huddle (before the Australian batting innings) and said, obviously, 'get off the wicket' so we don't cost our team another five runs.”

An ICC representative insisted there had been no directive from head office to clamp down on protecting the wicket.

Four pitches will be used at Guyana, with all but one having consecutive matches played on it. (On day one of the tournament they pushed that to three matches. Yes, three.)

Austraila celebrate a run out in their victory over Ireland. Picture: Getty

MORTLAKE MATTERS

Georgia Wareham was playing just her 11th international.  She is such a no fuss bowler. She rushed through her overs with her testing leg spin holding up an end. She just gets it done.

Her figures of 0-8 off four overs would have made her family watching from Mortlake in western Victoria proud.

Wareham has teamed superbly with housemate Sophie Molineux and the Aussie selectors have shown such faith in the pair.

With world class left arm spinner Jess Jonassen available for selection, the Aussies have favoured rewarding the pair’s consistency.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

The ICC is persisting with playing Group A matches on the Caribbean island of St Lucia despite poor weather forecasts.

Rain lashed St Lucia with play abandoned on Sunday, but it fined up on Sunday.

The ICC considered moving the rest of the Group A matches from St Lucia to Caribbean neighbour Antigua, but with an estimated $US1m price tag, the logistics of moving five teams and no guarantee of better weather, the idea has been shelved.

Clear skies.... Australia has missed the worst of the weather, so far.

Australia’s Group B games, which are being played in Georgetown, Guyana, have so far been unaffected by weather, but rain is predicted to hit the South American mainland later this week.

If further Group games are washed out, the semi finalists will be decided by: the teams in each pool with the most victories, if that’s all square, it’ll go to net run rate and if that fails to find a winner, head to head results will come into play.

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Originally published as Australia demolish Ireland at Women's World T20, with Alyssa Healy blasting half-century

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