Cricket:Ireland will start their World Twenty20 finals against a team ranked lower than them after Australia were beaten by Pakistan in a thrilling 'super over contest' in Dubai on Friday night.
The result means that Australia will be ranked in 10th position at the start of the tournament, with Ireland in ninth spot on the ICC rankings.
The two sides meet at the Premadasa in Colombo on Wednesday September 19th, with the sixth-ranked West Indies making up the group.
The Australians matched the tally of 151 achieved by Pakistan late on Friday, sending the match to the single over shootout, in which they scored 11 runs only for the hosts to edge them by a single run off the last ball of the match.
Having been beaten by seven wickets in their first match against Pakistan earlier in the week, Australia lost the series 2-0.
Australia skipper George Bailey, who hit a brilliant 42 off 27 balls in the losing effort, was nevertheless upbeat after an improved performance by his team.
“I’m really pleased that we played a lot closer to what we’re capable of,” he added. “I think our guys will take a lot of confidence out of it. But to be so close, and then to lose, leaves a lot of questions in your head.”