Updated 3.10pm
Ryan Bailey reports from Malahide
JUST EIGHTEEN OVERS were possible during Friday’s Royal London One-Day International between Ireland and England in Malahide as heavy rain spoiled the day for a capacity crowd of 10,000.
Play was halted shortly after noon but the persistent rain never relented and umpires Ian Ramage and Mark Hawthorne were left with no choice but to abandon the game at 3.10pm, although the majority of fans had already accepted the inevitable.
It means Ireland’s busy international starts on a damp note with Cricket Ireland now left to count the cost of a washout.
As was expected, once the heavens open there was no break in the grey skies over North Dublin and a resumption was always unlikely.
But because ten overs were bowled, fans are not entitled to a refund as per the ticketing policy.
In the action that was possible, Ireland stuttered to 56-4 after James Taylor, the England captain, won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling.
His decision was justified immediately as Mark Wood, one of five debutants for the visitors, dismissed William Porterfield after Paul Stirling had been run-out attempting to scramble a leg-bye.
Niall O’Brien was then caught by James Vince at first slip off Tim Bresnan and the ball after driving crisply down the ground, Andrew Balbirnie fell to a sharp catch at gully by Jason Roy off David Willey.
Ed Joyce and Gary Wilson went about rebuilding as play continued through a light drizzle but the clouds began to converge over Malahide and the game headed towards an inevitable fate.
Ireland are next in action in early June when they begin their Intercontinental Cup campaign against United Arab Emirates at this ground. The winner of that tournament will go into a play-off for the right to play Test cricket.