Australia vs Ireland T20 World Cup result: Aaron Finch, Mitchell Starc star as defending champions keep semi-final hopes alive

Australia beat Ireland by 42 runs at the T20 World Cup on Monday night. Australia are second in their group. Ireland's chances of a semi-final berth were unlikely. Captain Aaron Finch left the field and Marcus Stoinis and Tim David didn't finish their fielding duties.

Australia and Ireland are playing in the T20 World Cup.

Lorcan Tucker scores 71 off 48 balls. Mitchell Starc was on fire early but leaked runs late in the piece. Australia will take on Afghanistan on Friday night. Ireland will play New Zealand.

Josh Little is run-out by Mitchell Marsh and Australia win by 42 runs.

Cummins wicket takes the wickets of McCarthy and Smith. Australia are 9/137 after 18 overs.

Starc returns for the Aussies. Australia are 8/136 after 17 overs. Tucker plays a gorgeous ramp shot for a boundary and another one over the top of mid-off for another four runs. Starc gets a little bit loose, bowling two wides in the over.

16th over: Hazlewood back into the attack. Tucker goes over the top of mid-on for a maximum. Australia are 8/118 after 16 overs.

15th over: Wicket! Hand walks toward the off-side and is bowled around his legs by Zampa. McCarthy plays down the ground for a single, before Tucker hacks away on the leg- side. Australia are 8/106 after 16 overs.

Australia beat Ireland by six wickets to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Cummins is back on for Australia. Tucker is playing aggressively for Ireland. Fionn Hand plays a lovely shot over the off-side and it rolls away to the boundary. Ireland are 7/102 after 14 overs.

Australia are 7/95 after 13 overs of T20 World Cup match against Ireland.

Stoinis leaves the field and walks up the tunnel. Australia are 6/90 after 12 overs. Ireland are refusing to give up.

Zampa continues for Australia. Adair plays a nice cut shot for a boundary. Australia are 6/78 after 11 overs.

Marcus Stoinis wicket-less in 10th over for Australia. Adair comes to the crease from Ireland and moves to five runs. Adam Zampa comes into the attack. Aaron Finch has left the field with a hamstring issue. Mitchell Starc takes two wickets for Mitchell Maxwell in 3rd over. Paul Stirling hits a short ball over square-leg for six runs in the next over and Harry Tector hits short delivery to extra-cover. Ireland lose three of their best batsmen in first 3 overs. Australia take control after 5th. Australia are 5/25 after 4 overs and are in control.

Australia beat Ireland by six wickets to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Aaron Finch scored a half-century. Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc also played well. Mark Adair took four wides and went for over 50 runs.

Adair comes back on for the final over and is immediately dispatched for a boundary. David goes over extra-cover for another boundary, despite not middling the ball. Matt Wade plays an awkward looking ramp shot down to the third-man region for boundary after 20. Australia are 5/179 after that over.

Ireland take wicket of Stoinis in 19th over. Australia are 5/162 after 19 overs.

Dockrell has a good over in the 18th over. Ireland are 4/158 after 18. Tim David can only manage two singles.

McCarthy takes another wicket in the 17th over. Finch hits a full toss down the throat of the man at long-on.

Aaron Finch and Mitchell Starc score runs for Australia. McCarthy takes over for the final over.

Dockrell takes over the attack in the 16th over. Finch goes down the ground from the final ball of the over for six runs.

Adair returns and is crunched down the ground by Stoinis for a boundary. McCarthy produces one of the best pieces of fielding all tournament. Adair bowls three wides in a row to Finch.

Kotoni's double fend and barrel roll finish wins Fan Vote Try of the Year.

Australia are 3/108 after 14 overs. Australia are playing in the T20 World Cup. They are defending champions.

Aaron Finch, Mitchell Starc and Stoinis score runs for Australia. McCarthy returns for Ireland. They take 3/92 after 13 overs.

Australia and Ireland are playing T20 World Cup match. Australia are defending champions. Ireland have 3/87 after 12 overs.

Australia are playing Ireland in T20 World Cup. Australia are 3/84 after 11 overs.

Maxwell is not out on the 10th over. He finishes the over with a booming shot for six runs over the bowler's head. Australia are 2/78 after 10 overs.

Australia are playing a T20 World Cup match against Ireland. They are the defending champions. Barry McCarthy has already wicket-taken Mitchell Marsh. Glenn Maxwell is starting to score runs. They have a good start to the game. The score is 1/60 after 8 overs. Ireland are 1-53 after 7 overs and they are struggling. Australia are on 1:34 after 5. Their score at the Gabba is: 1 /20 after 4. Aussies are batting first. England are bowling second. It's a one-off match. There are no further matches. For more information, visit the match report.

Both sides are out on the field for the national anthems. Australia are the defending champions. Ireland won the toss and will bowl first at The Gabba.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

Australia beat Ireland in the T20 World Cup.

Australia and Ireland will play each other on Monday, October 31st at 7pm AEDT at The Gabba in Brisbane.