West Indies Qualify After Washout In Colombo

West Indies Qualify After Washout In Colombo

Chris Gayle took a brace of wickets before weather intervened and the Ireland-West Indies game was washed out

©REUTERS / Action Images

Ireland 129-6 (Gayle 2-21) v West Indies
No result
ICC World Twenty20 2012 Group Group B, Colombo
Scorecard
Report by Chetan Narula in Colombo

West Indies found themselves on the lucky end of the rainy stick when for a second match running, they encountered a washout at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Earlier on Saturday, they had lost to Australia on the Duckworth-Lewis method after weather interference during their bowling stint. This time they didn’t get to bat as Ireland's score of 129 for six in 19 overs went untested, meaning the West Indies qualified for the Super Eights.

West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. Under a cloudy sky and with the D/L threat looming, that seemed to be a wise option.

Ireland were hoping to make a better start than against Australia and all they needed was for skipper William Porterfield to last one ball. But it proved to be a tough task as he was bowled by Fidel Edwards for a golden duck, again. Ed Joyce came out to bat in the first over for the second time running and with Paul Stirling, who scored 19 runs off 16 balls, inclusive of three fours, added 33 runs for the second wicket.

Joyce himself made 17 runs off 19 balls (three fours) but their little partnership was affected by rain twice. Light rain interfered, then stopped, then re-started, causing a delay of nearly half an hour and loss of one over, reducing the match to 19-overs a side. Ireland bore the brunt of this more as they lost two quick wickets when play began.

Niall O’Brien and Gary Wilson came together to put together a partnership for the Irish and hold it together. They added 33 runs for the fourth wicket when Chris Gayle came on and had Wilson caught behind. He then proceeded to show off his dance moves much to the enthusiasm of the sparse crowd that had gathered.

Wilson scored 21 off 22 balls, with three fours and O’Brien made 25 off 21 balls, with a lonely six to show for. He was next out, again to Gayle and giving him another opportunity to dance, bowled in the 16th over.

Kevin O’Brien, the one big-hitting hope for Ireland tried to give them a thrust towards the end overs, but he was only able to chip in with 13 runs off 15 balls, with just the one six. The Irish had lost too many wickets to make an impact and it showed in their run-scoring.

They finished some 30 runs short of what they needed to make this Windies line-up sweat. Trent Johnston (15 off 10 balls) and Nigel Jones (14 off 11 balls) were unbeaten at the crease at the end of the innings in the 19th over. Both hit a six each.

Gayle was the best bowler for the Windies, finishing with two for 21 from three overs, Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, skipper Darren Sammy and Sunil Narine, each taking one wicket apiece.

West Indies went through to the Super Eights on account of superior Net Run Rate.

© Cricket World 2012