The Ireland women cricketers endured a sobering afternoon as they were comfortably dispatched by tournament favourites Australia in the World T20 in Guyana on Sunday.
Participating in their third T20 World Cup. the Ireland women are still seeking their first win in a finals competition but it was evident from a relatively early stage that it wouldn't be arriving here.
Things started promisingly enough with openers Clare Shillington and Cecilia Joyce carefully navigating the first six overs without surrendering a wicket.
However, after reaching 30/0 by the final ball of the seventh over, Joyce drove a low ball towards Delissa Kimmince in the Australian field and rashly tried for a single. The Aussie ran her out with a direct hit.
Ireland's came apart at the seams soon after as the wickets of Shillington and Eimear Richardson tumbled within minutes of one other.
The run rate fell off alarmingly and Isobel Joyce was then bowled out, like Richardson, after one run, thanks to Ashleigh Gardner's magnificent delivery. When Gaby Lewis was run out soon after, Ireland were at 46/5 after 12.5 overs.
The underdogs rallied, however, with captain Laura Delany and Kim Garth putting on a very strong sixth wicket stand, the partnership achieving 31 runs in a short period of time as Ireland's run rate picked up again.
The partnership was, however, marred by a warning dished out to Delany by the umpire for running across the middle of the pitch, resulting in a five run penalty. The Aussies would start their innings at 5/0.
The now wild-swinging Garth was bowled out on the third to last ball and then Shauna Kavanagh proceeded to register six runs off the final two balls to leave Ireland with a still meagre total of 93/6.
It was a tall order for the Irish bowlers and it was clear early on that the Aussies wouldn't take long in reeling it in.
Opener Alyssa Healy was in mean form, rattling off boundaries at a furious pace. For their part, the Irish bowlers were nervy, helping their opponents with a generous number of wides, not that they needed help.
The Aussies were 65/0 after a mere five overs and a ruthless and exuberant Healy brought up her half century by the end of the seventh over.
Just prior to that, Ireland took their only wicket with Healy's opening partner Beth Mooney knocking a Garth delivery straight into the paws of Delany.
The Australian run rate slowed a tad as they closed in on the win with Garth and Lucy O'Reilly succeeding in slowing the run rate prior.
However, at the beginning of the tenth over, Healy finished the job and put Ireland out of their misery.
Next up for Delany's team is a meeting with Pakistan on Tuesday.
