Belfast, United Kingdom: Steven Smith's first match as full-time Australia captain ended with a rain-affected 23-run one-day international win over Ireland in Belfast on Thursday, but it needed the speed of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to put the hosts in their place.

A third-wicket partnership of 86 between Ed Joyce (44) and Niall O'Brien (45) put Ireland on course for their first ever victory over the world champions. But after Glenn Maxwell ended the stand, the middle-lower order could not maintain the scoring rate against the express pace of Cummins and Starc, the world's top-ranked ODI bowler.