Ireland's chances of qualifying for the second stage of the men's T20 Cricket World Cup hang by a thread after an emphatic 67-run defeat to Australia in Colombo.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat in windy conditions on a slow pitch and they proceeded to make 182 for 6 off their 20 overs.
In reply Ireland, who lost captain Paul Stirling to injury after facing his very first delivery, made just 115.
Having lost to Sri Lanka in their opening match Ireland now have to beat both Oman and Zimbabwe in their final two group matches if they are to have any hope of moving to the Super 8 phase of the tournament.
Ireland had early success in only the second over as opener Travis Head went for an ill-advised quick single and Ben Calitz showed presence of mind to throw to bowler Mark Adair - running out Head as he couldn’t make his ground.
Despite that, the Aussies began to motor in the powerplay and were up to over ten runs an over at one stage before Ireland took two quick wickets as Cameron Greene (21) and the big hitting Josh Ingles (37) perished, Ingles brilliantly caught by Stirling at short cover.
Glenn Maxwell only contributed nine runs before he fell to the bowling of Harry Tector, Australia four down for 88 runs in the 10th over as Ireland looked to turn the screw.
However Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis settled the Aussies after the loss of those three quick wickets, adding 61 runs for the fifth wicket before spinner Matt Humphreys clean bowled Renshaw for 37 in the 17th over.
Stoinis went on to make 45 as the Aussies ended their innings, setting Ireland a target of 183 to win.
Ireland's reply began disastrously as captain Stirling, who had left the field having taken a fine catch in the Aussie innings, pulled up injured facing the first ball and had to be immediately replaced by Tector.
Ross Adair, Tector, Curtis Campher and Calitz all perished in quick succession as Ireland fell to 27 for 4 in the fifth over as Australian bowler Nathan Ellis ripped through the Irish top order.
Gareth Delaney (11) quickly followed as Ireland fell to 43 for 5 in only the seventh over.
Lorcan Tucker, who made 24 and George Dockrell (41) - who was playing in his 350th game for his country - at least gave their side some respectability in the middle overs but the task was always beyond Ireland after the injury to Stirling and the fall of those early wickets.
The innings ended on 115 for 9 with Stirling, who had injured his calf, not batting again as the Aussies cruised to victory in their first game of the finals.
Ireland now must put the defeat behind them and move on to a must-win game against Oman, which starts at 5.30am Irish time on Saturday, also in Colombo, as Australia take on Zimbabwe on Friday.
