On a day when Ireland and England were supposed to share centre stage it was pretty ironic that the words of a Scot and his “best laid plans of mice and men” most accurately summed up events at Malahide. Organisers had worked exceptionally hard over the past few months, trying to ensure that everything was in place to continue the momentum from the World Cup, but in the end just 18 overs of play were possible. The visitors, with no fewer than five debutants in their ranks won the toss and opted to bowl first against an Ireland side that had left North West pair Stuart Thompson and Andy McBrine out of the starting XI.

Regular openers William Porterfield and Paul Stirling got things going but they were to stay together for little more than 3 overs before Stirling, called through for a sharp single by his skipper, was run out by a direct throw from Johnny Bairstow.

Ed Joyce was next man in and this pair took the score to 23 before debutant Mark Wood got Porterfield (7) to chop the final ball of the 7th over onto his stumps. Niall O’Brien came in and plundered a couple of early boundaries off the Durham bowler but it was short-lived resistance as he then edged one from Tim Bresnan into the slip cordon and was gone for 10.

Andrew Balbirnie managed just a single from the first 17 balls he faced before hitting a four and then getting out next ball from David Willey as the hosts slumped to 53-4 in the 17th over.

Ed Joyce (23*) however was once again showing his class and when the rain arrived minutes later he and Gary Wilson (3*) had nursed the home side to 56 for 4.

And despite waiting and hoping for the next three hours most had long since accepted that that would be that. The rain continued throughout, and by the time the official announcement of the abandonment came through shortly after 3pm, many of the spectators were already at home drying off.

A disappointing day for everyone involved and as one commentator reasoned at the end of the game, another insight into why it is so important that Ireland aren’t left relying on the weather once every couple of years.

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