Published Thursday, 25 August 2011
Ireland lost out by 11 runs, under the Duckworth-Lewis method, in the RSA Challenge one-day international against England - despite having the better of their opponents before rain disrupted play at Clontarf.
But captain William Porterfield wasn't blaming the weather for the result.
"It's swings and roundabouts. It probably worked for us a bit, worked for them a bit throughout the day," he said.
"We thought maybe 87 was a bit much slightly at the end there off the 10 overs, but that's the way it goes - we gave it a crack, that's all we could do."
First blood went to the home side when Porterfield won the toss to put England (captained by Irishman Eoin Morgan) in to bat - and kept them to 38 for two after 12 overs.
Everybody here's very hospitable. Today I got a great welcome, so thank you.
Eoin Morgan
Hopes were high, with Ireland having famously beaten England when the sides last met in a World Cup match in Bangalore in March, and Craig Keeswetter was first of the visitors to be dismissed.
He was caught behind off the bowling of John Mooney, who hit the winning runs in that March victory.
Then James Taylor was caught by Gary Wilson, off the bowling of Boyd Rankin, and England were in trouble.
Morgan came to the crease and went on to share a century partnership with Jonathon Trott for the third wicket. He finished on 59 before being caught and bowled by Paul Stirling.
Stirling got another catch late on, as England totalled 201 for eight from their 42 overs.
Ireland lost three early wickets in reply, before Kevin O'Brien came to the wicket and brought back memories of that record-breaking century in the World Cup game.
But even his hard-hitting performance wasn't enough for Ireland to prevail.