• Australia, the defending champions, were shocked by Ireland.
• Ireland beat Australia in a Women’s Twenty20 World Cup warm-up game.
• Australia losing by three wickets.

Australia, the defending champions and overwhelming favourites in the event, were shocked by Ireland in a Women’s Twenty20 World Cup warm-up game on Wednesday in Stellenbosch, losing by three wickets.

Australia scored 168-5 in their innings thanks to half-centuries from Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath, but Ireland successfully chased down the total with two balls remaining.

With 32 points, captain Laura Delany led all scorers, and three other hitters hit at least 20.

Australia, the top-ranked team in the world in this competition, has taken home five of the last seven Women’s Twenty20 World Cup titles. In the town of Paarl in the southwest of South Africa, they play New Zealand to open their competition on Saturday.

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