Rain sends Ireland packing

Cricket365
September 24, 2012

Mum Nature and her cruel, sodden mood rendered Monday's World Twenty20 Group B clash in Colombo a no-result, with the West Indies afforded graduation to the Super Eights and Ireland booted out of the competition.

Mum Nature and her cruel, sodden mood rendered Monday's World Twenty20 clash in Colombo a no-result, with the West Indies afforded graduation to the Super Eights and Ireland booted out of the competition.

Ireland made 129 for six in their innings, reduced to 19 overs by the initial clement weather, before the showers returned to prevent the Windies' chase from getting underway.

Both teams gained one point each, but the West Indian joined Group B winners Australia in the next round due to a net run-rate superior to that of the Irish.

The West Indies will be placed alongside defending champions England, New Zealand and hosts Sri Lanka in group one of the Super Eights, which start on Thursday.

The other half has Australia, South Africa, India and either Pakistan or Bangladesh, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Monday's match saw Chris Gayle's part-time spin clinch two key wickets as the Ireland innings failed to gain any momentum after Windies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to field.

Niall O'Brien made 25 and Gary Wilson scored 21 before both falling to Gayle. Skipper William Porterfield, meanwhile, endured his second first-ball duck of the competition, with a yorker from fast bowler Fidel Edwards undoing him this time.