Images: England vs Ireland

After Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and elected to field first, the new ball bowlers did a good job of restricting the England openers in the initial overs.

Michael Lumb started the proceedings as he flicked Boyd Rankin's delivery towards the boundary off the first ball.

He then played superb square cut off Trent Johnson as the opener picked up the pace. But then Kevin O'Brien provided the breakthrough, when had Lumb caught at short fine leg by Rankin for 14.

Ireland kept it tight in field, with their bowling and fielding. Craig Kieswetter ran himself out, when he set out for a non-existent single at midwicket.

With England reduced to 32 for two, it was left to Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen to fire.

But the Collingwood, couldn't do much as he succumbed to a peach of a delivery from Trent Johnson and was safely pouched in the slips by Andre Botha for a duck.

Pietersen too never got going as struggled against medium pacers and spinners. He was finally caught at the deep square leg for painful nine runs off 18 balls. England were reduced to 49 for four after 10 overs.

With England losing wickets at the other end, Eion Morgan broke the shackles a bit with his innovative hitting. He teamed up Luke Wright as the England crossed the 100-run mark.

The duo negotiated the bowling attack patiently and added 41 runs for the fifth wicket. However Wright too soon departed when he was caught by Porterfield off Ranking for a patient 20 off 24 balls.

Morgan continued collect runs as he hit couple of boundaries off Botha. He then picked up another boundary off Alex Cusack as he pressed the peddle in the last overs.

Morgan was however dismissed, when he was caught at the long on boundary off Botha for a well made 45 off 37 balls, which included five hits to the fence. England finished with 120 for eight in their stipulated overs.

Rain halted the match soon after Ireland started chasing the victory target of 121. They were four for no loss in 1.2 overs when the match was halted due to heavy downpour.

Though the proceedings resumed under a laden sky after almost half-an-hour, Ireland could add only 10 runs in 13 balls before the heaven again opened up and the players ran for cover.

Ireland suffered their only loss during those few minutes of play when opener Paul Stirling (0) fell prey to Ryan Sidebottom in the second over.

Ireland was 14 for one in 3.3 overs, with captain William Porterfield (4 n.o.) and Niall O'Brien (9 n.o.) on the crease when the play was halted for the second time.