Watson stars as Aussies avoid Irish joke: ICC T20 WC R1 AUS v IRE (RPS)

Allrounder Shane Watson shone with both bat and ball as Australia started their World T20 campaign with a crushing seven wicket defeat of Ireland.

Watson took 3 for 26 as Ireland was restricted to 123-7 and then smashed 51 off 30 balls to help Australia surpass the modest total in the 16th over. Australians are after a patchy two years of Twenty20 cricket, when they fell to 10th in the rankings below Ireland at one stage last month.

ICC T20 WC R1 AUS v IRE (RPS), Sept 2012