Ireland came close to causing a huge upset in world cricket when they lost to Australia by 39 runs in the one-off game played at Dublin. At one stage, the Irish were very much in hunt for a win, but a late-order collapse thanks to a five-wicket haul by James Hopes, ended the Irish hopes.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that had enough in it for the bowlers to test the opposition. Shane Watson did not last too long and Boyd Rankin had the better of him, and despite a 66-run second wicket stand between Tim Paine and Ricky Ponting, the runs were very few and far between. 
Ponting and Michael Clarke departed at the same score, and it was the fourth wicket stand between Paine (81) and Cameron White that rescued the Aussies from trouble. Yet, at 152/3 in the 38th over, the Aussies looked like they could do with some hitting to get up to 250, but when White was also dismissed by Stirling, the Aussies were in some trouble.
The late order did not do much with the bat, and the batting Powerplay was also frittered away as the side ended with 231/9 in the fifty overs.
Ireland started like they were chasing more than 350 and got off to a dream start. The opening pair of William Porterfield and Paul Stirling added 80 for the first wicket in only 11 overs, and despite being separated, bowled down the leg-side by Ryan Harris, seemed to have done enough to get the side closer to a win.
Gary Wilson and Porterfield departed at 86, but Alex Cussack and Niall O’Brien batted well enough to ensure that the side were in control at 137/3 in the 25th over. The required rate was less than four per over and with seven wickets in hand, even the minnows like Ireland were favourites to win it.
However, at that stage, the Aussies, who needed someone to put up their hand up and deliver for the side, had Hopes sending down one of his best international spells. He scalped five wickets for a paltry 14 runs off his nine overs to turn the game around in the favour of his side as Ireland collapsed from 137/3 to 192 all out. Hopes was the obvious winner of the man of the match even as the Aussies will need to overcome the rustiness for the rest of the tour to get the results in their favour.