Ireland denied by precipitation

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Ireland crashed out of the World Twenty20 at the first hurdle after their clash with West Indies was abandoned due to torrential rain.

West Indies, who won the toss, restricted their opponents to 129 for six either side of a shower in an encounter reduced to 19 overs per side.

Yet Ireland were not given the opportunity to defend that total as the heavens opened once again.

That meant the Windies reached the Super Eights - in which they will face England on Thursday - at the expense of the minnows after both were comfortably beaten by Group B winners Australia earlier in the competition.

A bleak image at Colombo, where Ireland's hopes of reaching the next phase of the World Twenty20 evaporated due to heavy rain

Ireland got off to the worst possible start as, like the match against the Aussies, they lost skipper Will Porterfield to the innings’ first delivery; he was bowled by a vicious Fidel Edwards inswinging yorker.

Paul Stirling looked set to lead a fightback as Ireland reached 33 for one prior to the first interruption, striking with freedom through the off side.

When play resumed, West Indies introduced mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who duly beat Ed Joyce’s edge twice with off-breaks before turning one the other way to bowl the left-hander.

Stirling tamely top-edged a pull off Darren Sammy to square-leg, after which Gary Wilson and the O’Brien brothers – Niall and Kevin – resisted.

Wilson impressed with 22 before edging behind off Chris Gayle, who then bowled Niall O’Brien after the wicketkeeper-batsman had hooked Andre Russell for six.

Kevin O’Brien fell to Ravi Rampaul having launched Edwards over mid-off for six, while Trent Johnston and Nigel Jones struck a maximum apiece in taking Ireland to their eventual total. That may have provided a test for West Indies, but rain denied us an opportunity to find out.

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