India opened their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a convincing 8-wicket win against Ireland in New York on Wednesday.

Ireland had a bat first at the Nassau County Stadium and were bowled out for 96-runs in 16-overs with Gareth Delany scoring 26-runs.

Hardik Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3/27.

In reply, the 2007 champions chased down the target in just 12.2 overs with the captain Rohit Sharma scoring 52 before retiring hurt, while Rishabh Pant scored 36 not out.

Mark Adair and Ben White each took a wicket for the Irish.

Marcus Stoinis - Cricinfo

Australia in turn also got off to a winning start with a 39-run win against Oman in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Australia scored 164/5 in their 20 overs with Marcus Stoinis scoring 67 not out.

Stoinis then took 3/19 in 3-overs as Oman were restricted to 125/9.

Meanwhile, over in Providence in Guyana, the new boys on the block, Uganda earned their first-ever win at a World Cup by beating Papua New Guinea by three-wickets in a low-scoring, but thrilling affair.

Papua New Guinea were bowled out for 77-runs in 19.1 overs, but the East Africans managed to sneak across the line with just 10 balls to spare.

On Thursdays at 17:30, the co-hosts, the USA will face Pakistan in Dallas, while at 21:00, Namibia will be in action against Scotland in what should be a cracking game in Barbados.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport