Cricket:Ireland beat both the weather and their opponents this afternoon to record a 52-run Duckworth-Lewis victory and seal RSA Challenge Series win against Kenya in Clontarf. On the back of a horrendous weather forecast, Ireland always knew they faced a battle against time to wrap up the series after taking a 1-0 lead with a three-wicket win on Thursday.
Helped by a much better display in the field this time around, they bowled Kenya out for 175 in the 46th over, with Boyd Rankin picking up three wickets for 40 runs, while spinners Kyle McCallan and Regan West both picked up two.
That gave the openers 20 minutes before lunch to get Ireland’s reply going and skipper William Porterfield signalled their intent with four boundaries as they made 18 without loss off the five overs.
Well ahead of the D-L score, the weather was now the key as they needed to make it to 20 overs to constitute a match.
Porterfield and Gary Wilson scored freely as the overs ticked by, although there was some nerves as the rain finally arrived at the start of the 19th over.
Umpires Paul Baldwin and Rudi Koetzen, standing in his 200th One-Day International, didn’t seem too bothered as Wilson brought up his second ODI half-century off 61 balls with eight fours.
With the 20-over mark passed, Porterfield went in search of his second successive half-century, hitting Steve Tikolo for a straight six. The spinner earned his revenge next ball, as the Gloucestershire player was deceived by a quicker delivery as he perished for 49.
Three balls later and with the rain more persistent, the umpires took the players off the field with Ireland 52 runs ahead on D-L. That was confirmed as the results two hours later, at around 5.20pm, when the umpires gave up hope of further play.
The third match of the series will be at the same venue tomorrow at 10.45am.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons may take the chance to hand a debut to young seam bowler Andrew Britton in the game, while teenager Paul Stirling may come in after scoring a century against the Kenyans in the recent Intercontinental Cup clash.
SCORES
RSA CHALLENGE SERIES
At Clontarf:Kenya 175 (45.1 ovs) (A Obanda 59, N Odhiambo 40, C Obuya 28; B Rankin 3-40, K McCallan 2-30, R West 2-36), Ireland 104-1 (21 ovs) (G Wilson 51no, W Porterfield 49). Ireland won by 52 runs (D-L) and take the series 2-0.