A cricketing summer ruined by rain ended with the dampest squib of them all in Colombo.

Ireland will leave Sri Lanka with heads held high after seeing their hopes of beating the West Indies and reaching the Super Eights stage of the World T20 ended by rain in Colombo.

The folly of organising a cricket tournament as monsoon season approaches was shown up in Colombo asIreland splashed out of the ICC World Twenty20.

For the second successive World Twenty20, Ireland's tournament ended in the rain and they head home tonight wondering what might have been.

THE day after being given a lifeline in the World Twenty20 should have seen an upbeat Ireland squad at their final training session ahead of this afternoon's decisive group game against West Indies (3pm BST).

In his Mail on Sunday column, Kevin O'Brien looks back at the past week and ahead to the vital game against West Indies.

Ireland's cricketers face a winner takes all clash with West Indies this afternoon in their final group game of the ICC World Twenty20.

Ireland's campaign ended in frustration in the Colombo rain as a ìno resultî meant that it was the West Indies that progressed to the Super Eights.

Ireland's cricketers have been ravaged with illness ahead of their crucial Twenty20 World Cup clash against West Indies this afternoon in Colombo.

Ireland's hopes of progressing to the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 were hit this weekend by a mystery bug.

The World Twenty20 came alive yesterday and so did Ireland's hopes of reaching the Super Eight.

THE old Arab traders called this island Serendib, which is the origin of the word serendipity, or making happy accidents by chance.

Ed Joyce is convinced that Ireland can make the Super Eight phase of the ICC World Twenty20.

His words were little consolation to an Ireland squad who admitted they let themselves down on the big stage as opening night nerves struck again.

The Australian players used mental disintegration tactics against Ireland.

Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the Super Eights stage are hanging by a thread after they were convincingly beaten by Australia in their Group B opener at Colombo.

Ireland captain William Porterfield admitted his side fluffed their opening lines badly in their Group B clash against Australia as a poor batting display saw Australia complete an altogether too easy seven-wicket victory

Ireland's four warm-up matches to the World Twenty20 were, apparently, just that. They are still notoriously slow starters to tournaments and, yet again, they have lost their opening match.

The Ireland cricket team took some time off from their practice and training schedule to visit the Arklow Orphanage Boys Home 35 miles south of Colombo.

ìWe let ourselves down,î admitted William Porterfield after Ireland stumbled to a deeply disappointing defeat in Colombo last night.

Bring on the Aussies. That was the cry from the Ireland squad in Colombo last night as they made final preparations for their return to the world stage.

Ireland head into the ICC World Twenty20 with a skip in their step after a second stunning victory in the official warm-ups.

After losing a home series to Bangladesh 3-0 back in July, Ireland's bowlers fought hard yesterday to secure a five-run win over the Tigers in the final warm-up game ahead of the World Twenty20 finals.

Ireland will go into the World Twenty20 group stage tomorrow on the back of four consecutive warm-up wins after a thrilling comeback victory against Bangladesh in Colombo.

There's nothing to beat the build-up to a big tournament and with three wins out of three this one is better than most. We're usually quite slow starters but for this World Twenty20 we have hit the ground running.

It is the culmination of a superb year for Dockrell who also found time to captain the Ireland Under 19 team at the World Cup and is now preparing for his fourth global tournament at the age of just 20.

It is, by common consent, the most open global event in ICC history with at least half of the 12 teams capable of winning the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

Ireland produced a stunning fightback to defeat Bangladesh by five runs in their final ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game at Moors Cricket Club in Colombo.

THE ICC World Twenty20 kicks off in Sri Lanka on Tuesday with Ireland's cricketers again creeping back into the public gaze.

Gary Wilson is one of the few batsmen who has yet to make a meaningful contribution in Ireland's three warm-up games in Sri Lanka, but he intends to put that right on Monday when Ireland meet Bangladesh.

The 20 year enjoyed a fantastic run of form in the voting period for the award, capturing 52 wickets at 15.83 for Ireland in all cricket, including 22 in three InterContinental Cup matches and 14 in T20 Internationals - more than any other bowler, including Full Members

It has already been suggested that if Ireland beat both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, the two Full Members closest to them in the rankings, then a result against either Australia or West Indies in the World Twenty20 proper will be a bonus.

Niall O'Brien top scored with 62 as Ireland's cricketers completed a comprehensive 54 runs win against Zimbabwe in their first offical ICC World Twenty20 warm -up game in Colombo today.

IF Boyd Rankin is going to break into the England team he is going to have to start bowling a fuller length. That's the advice to the soon-to-be ex-Ireland international from Craig McDermott.

Ireland spinner George Dockrell is banking on surfaces to favour his bowling during the ICC World T20.

The Irish qualified for the second phase of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 and the ICC World T20 2009 and also claimed the memorable scalp of England in the last ICC Cricket World Cup when O'Brien struck the fastest century in tournament history.

Ed Joyce and Alex Cusack turned in fine displays to ensure Ireland's second win in two days as they comfortably defeated Sri Lanka A in Colombo.

Alex Cusack hits 73 as Ireland beat Singalese Sports Club by five wickets.