GAME OVER. No result, and Ireland bow out. Real pity for the Irish lads, who had put England under real pressure.
That’s all from me. Take care folks.
The rain is still coming down in Guyana and the cut-off point of 2159 is coming ever closer, so it looks like it’ll be a “No Result”. Which would mean Ireland going out of the World Cup. Desperately disappointing, as there was a real possibility of an upset this evening.
Now, covers are off and we’re aiming for a 2145 recommencement. More when we get it.
We’ve also put together our latest Scout’s Report, looking at one Irish player from each of England’s four divisions. Find out who’s been under the JOE spotlight here.
Meanwhile, no more updates from Guyana. Covers still on, with Ireland’s innings having been interrupted at 14-1 just after Niall O’Brien had struck two fantastic fours in successive balls.
Or some snaps of great sporting masks?
And with that the rain is back. Getting a tad boring this. Lemme see, what can I point you in the direction of? How about the best of the sporting pics from the weekend?
Actually, scratch that. We need nine more balls to constitute a game. And the covers are coming off, so it looks like we’re going to get them.
Update time: If the teams don’t come back on, England go through on net run rate over their two games. If they do, Ireland have a target of 27 from five overs, or 13 runs off nine balls. I think.
Meanwhile, if you’re hanging around and you’re looking for some diversion, why not check out the Celtic v Rangers tracker over in Football.
The rain is coming down again, and the covers are back on.
Ireland 14-1 (3.2 overs) – Rain stopped play
And another four, lofted back over Side-arse’s head. “Successive boundaries,” bleats Bumble.
O’Brien lifts Sidebottom over mid-weight for the first boundary of the innings. Good shtuff, Nialler…
Another tight over by Bresnan. The required run rate (henceforth to be known as RRR) has edged out to 6.7 an over.
Ireland 6-1 (3 overs)
Niall O’Brien is new at the crease. Memories of 2007, anyone?
Michael Lumb takes a brilliant diving catch and Paul Stirling is gone for 0. It looked a four or even a six when it left the bat but Lumb was equal to it and Stirling’s innings is over.
Ireland 4-1 (2 overs)
The teams are back out on the field and no overs have been lost, so no need for Duckworth and Lewis just yet. That’s a good thing…
If it’s abandoned without any more play, England go through. Bumble Lloyd is optimistic that the shower will pass. I think he was talking about the rain.
And there’s the rain. It’s going to be Duckworth-Lewis again by the looks of it.
Ireland 4-0 (1.2 overs) – Rain stopped play
Ireland off the mark with a well-timed three from Stirling.
Ireland 3-0 (1 over)
We’re under way. Tim Bresnan takes the new ball and Paul Stirling, the 19-year-old, opens the batting for Ireland.
Can Ireland cause an upset? Here’s hoping, but the suspicion is that they’ll fall just short. 120 is not too bad a score on a pitch that has given plenty of joy to the bowlers today.
Make sure to join us for Ireland’s innings in a few minutes’ time.
Trent Johnston, Irish via Wollongong, is caught for a few words after the innings: “It was a great bowling performance and we pride ourselves in our fielding too so hopefully we can get 121 and get through to another Super 8.”
“All eyes will be on Ireland’s fragile batting line-up.” Nasser again. England’s scorecard has a sorry look to it, Morgan’s 45 apart.
England’s innings is complete. Eight off the final over brings England to 120-8. Can one of Ireland’s batsmen become a national hero?
England 120-8 (20 overs)
“That could be a match-winning innings from Morgan,” says Nasser. Meanwhile, another wicket! A direct hit from Trent in the deep! And Michael Yardy is gone!
England 118-8 (19.4 overs)
Wicket! Morgan eventually goes for 45, holing out to Gary Wilson at long-off.
England 115-7 (19.3 overs)
Morgan has 43 for 35 balls. “He’s holding England together,” say the Sky boys.
Eight from the over. Another good over for Ireland.
England 112-6 (19 overs)
Morgan improvises for a fine four but a couple of balls later… Wicket! Bresnan goes for five, caught by Mooney at long off off the bowling of Rankin.
England 109-6 (18.5 overs)
A desperately unlucky four for Ireland to concede. Botha is bottom-edged by Bresnan, it just misses the stumps, flies between O’Brien’s legs and races away for four.
England 104-5 (18 overs)
Another four from Morgan. The Barmy Army dance in their seats. 100 up for England, and Morgan has got 38 of them.
A lucky escape for England. Bresnan is halfway down the pitch but is sent back. Porterfield misses when a direct hit would have done for him. A good over, though, just five off it.
England 94-5 (17 overs)
Tim Bresnan is the new batsman. “Once again the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Eoin Morgan,” say Sky. It’d make you heave.
Wicket! Wright cracks a half volley straight to Irish captain William Porterfield.
England 90-5 (16.2 overs)
Big Boyd is back in and Morgan eases him away to deep backward square (I’m getting to know this stuff…) to move onto 29.
A six – the first of the innings – from Wright. Thirteen off the over.
England 89-4 (16 overs)
“It could come down to fitness and some of these guys are only semi-pro,” drones Nasser Hussain, patronisingly. The guy in the middle is one of ours, Nasser!
“The game is set up for one of the Irish batsmen to knock England out of the tournament,” chokes Nasser.
A full toss by Kevin O’Brien but John Mooney produces a cracking bit of fielding to prevent the boundary. Saved two runs that.
No. The last ball shoots high in the air from Wright but it drops in open country. Just one off the over, great stuff from our boy George.
England 76-4 (15 overs)
Five dot balls. Could it be a maiden over?
Four…
… make that three dot balls …
Dockrell continues. 0-18 off his three overs so far and he starts his final over with two dot balls. Good stuff from the 17-year-old…
Eight more off that one. Are England and their Irishman finding their stride?
England 75-4 (14 overs)
There’s something you don’t see very often in Twenty20. A forward defensive from Luke Wright.
Luke Wright mistimes one in the air but it drops short of Trent Johnston. Bit of an escape there for England.
Morgan heaves Dockrell over mid-wicket for four. Jeez, will someone just get him out? Eight off the over and Morgan moves onto 25 runs off 22 deliveries.
England 67-4 (13 overs)
“They’ll have to play well to get to 120,” says Bumble. This target is being revised downwards with every passing over.
Seven off Cusack’s first over.
England 59-4 (12 overs)
A nice shot of Phil Simmons on the Irish balcony. He looks so cool there, sitting back chewing the scenery in his Cricket Ireland shirt…
Morgan flicks four off his pads to move to 15. That makes him England’s leading scorer. Again.
Alex Cusack is the new bowler, but not according to Bumble. “Alex Coosack,” he called him. Plonker.
Andre Botha’s first over goes for just three. Johnston’s overs have set the tone and the rest of the Irish bowlers are rowing in behind him. Great stuff from the boys in green.
England 52-4 (11 overs)
“It’s the Rocky Horror Show here,” says David Bumble Lloyd. You have to love it.
That’s two wickets for Kevin O’Brien. Figures of 2-9 off his two overs so far.
England 49-4 (10 overs)
Wicket! Kevin Pietersen pulls to John Mooney at deep mid-wicket and is out for nine.
England 49-4 (9.4 overs)
By the way, another pointer to our interview last week with Niall “F*** Off” O’Brien.
A reverse sweep from Morgan for four. That’s the first boundary in a while from the old coloniser.
England 45-3 (9 overs)
“We interrupt our coverage to bring you an apology for some rather choice language from Irish wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien.”
You must be joking.
Johnston finishes up with figures of 1-14 off his four overs. He needs his fellow bowlers to back him up.
England 38-3 (8 overs)
Suddenly the Sky boys are a little worried. “England just have to get a score,” says Nasser. “It’s not going to be 190. Maybe 130-something will be enough.”
1907:
Trent Johnston starts his last over. The veteran has gone for just four an over so he’ll be missed after this.
Good over from George Dockrell, Ireland’s 17-year-old left arm spinner. Just three off it.
England 35-3 (7 overs)
He eases it to mid-on for a comfy single.
Now, first ball for Morgan. Let’s see what the little traitor is made of.
Another one down! Collingwood for a duck! Eoin Morgan’s in next and “England in a spot of trouble here,” say Nasser and the boys.
England 32-3 (6 overs)
Collingwood is in at the crease but “Ireland are fielding for their lives,” says one of the Sky commentators.
They’re taking their time with this one. Looks very close. I’m trying to be objective but it looks out to me. And it is! Kieswetter gone for 13.
England 32-2 (5.3 overs)
Ooooohhh! Run out chance. John Mooney the fielder and O’Brien takes off the bails. Kieswetter dives but he must be out. Surely?
“England need to keep the pressure on Ireland. That’s when some of these minnows crumble.” Thus spake Nasser Hussain. Public Enemy No 1 round my gaff, he is.
Just five runs off it. Ireland acquitting themselves well here. Kevin Pietersen is the new batsman by the way.
England 29-1 (5 overs)
Just saw a replay of that catch. Very well taken sir! “Spooned” did Rankin a disservice. More like a quick flick but the six-foot-seven giant got down brilliantly.
Finally, Ireland take a chance. Kevin O’Brien’s first ball is spooned by Michael Lumb to Boyd Rankin. Lumb scored 14 runs off 11 balls.
England 24-1 (4.1 overs)
Another missed chance! Botha at slip drops an outside edge from Kieswetter. Much better for Ireland though. There was a half-hearted lbw appeal from our Trent and then not one but two smart takes and attempted stumpings by Niall O’Brien. (Listen to me, you’d think I knew what I was talking about…) Neither was close to being out but the batsmen have to be on their toes. Just three runs off the over.
England 24-0 (4 overs)
Kieswetter skies one high into the air but George Dockrell spills the catch. Ireland need to take chances like that if they’re to upset the odds.
England 21-0 (3 overs)
Six more off the second, bowled by Trent Johnston. Michael Lumb has hit both boundaries so far for the English.
England 12-0 (2 overs)
A four off the first ball but Rankin tightens up after that and allows just two more runs for the rest of the over.
England 6-0 (1 over)
Right, we’re all set in Guyana. Boyd Rankin (right arm medium fast, says the Sky banner) takes the ball for the first over. Lumb and Kieswetter are at the crease. They’re two South Africans by the way.
In addition to Eoin Morgan, there are three South Africans in the England XI: Lumb, Kieswetter and Pietersen. Sure it may as well be Ireland against the Rest of the World and the Best of Ireland. That can’t be fair, can it?
(Granted, Ireland have Andre Botha and Trent Johnston but we’d never resist a chance to have a pop at the Auld Enemy)
The last Irishman to play against Ireland in a World Cup cricket match was Ed Joyce in 2007. He scored one.
While we’re waiting for the start of play in Guyana, here’s a piece from earlier today on Ireland’s battle with their countryman.
Just a reminder of the line-ups:
England: M. Lumb, C. Kieswetter (wk), K. Pietersen, P. Collingwood (capt), E. Morgan, L. Wright, S. Broad, T. Bresnan, G. Swann, M. Yardy, R. Sidebottom
Ireland: W. Porterfield (capt), P. Stirling, N. O’Brien (wk), A. Cusack, G. Wilson, K. O’Brien, T. Johnston, J. Mooney, A. Botha, B. Rankin, G. Dockrell
And if you fancy wasting away a few minutes with even more cricket, check out JOE’s interview with Ireland star Niall O’Brien.
“It must be absolutely galling for Irish supporters to listen to that,” says Mike Atherton in the Sky studio. Too right, Michael. May those three lions burn a scar on his forehead. Joking, I’m joking…
A good five minutes with Eoin Morgan, England’s Irishman, on Sky Sports just now. “We’re just looking forward to playing the Irish,” he says. With a straight face. Remember, he played against England for Ireland at the 2007 One-Day International World Cup. He was run out for two on that occasion. Here’s hoping…
Woo-hoo! The first big decision has gone Ireland’s way – captain William Porterfield has won the toss and has put England in to bat. The Sky commentator, some New Zealand no-name of the not-too-recent past, reckons there will be plenty in the pitch for the spinners.
It’s been raining in Guyana, where Duckworth-Lewis – him again – was called into action this afternoon as New Zealand got the better of Zimbabwe in a rain-interrupted.
