India and Australia gained full points from their opening matches at the World Twenty20 with contrasting wins against lesser-ranked sides on Wednesday.

In a double-header in Colombo, Australia brushed aside Ireland by seven wickets in group B, while India survived a scare from fearless Afghanistan before recording a 23-run win.

India, sent in to bat, took advantage of its rivals' butter-fingered display to recover from a bad start and post 159-5, with Virat Kohli top-scoring with 50 off 38 balls.