Rain ruins second T20 in St Kitts

The second T20 international in St Kitts was washed out, meaning Ireland were ensured at least a share of the series spoils with one game remaining. It looked a reprieve for Ireland as a DLS adjusted chase of 152 in 19 overs looked to be well within the powerful West Indies batting line-up on the small ground.

Stand-in skipper Paul Stirling had struck an early blow, having removed Lendl Simmons in his first and only over. Andy Balbirnie had suffered a hamstring strain while batting and was a doubt for final match in the series. The hosts had reached 16 for 1 after 2.1 overs when the rain returned for the final time, leaving the officials little option but to abandon the match despite the best efforts of the ground staff.

Earlier in the Irish innings there was no repeat of the record-breaking heroics in the first game, with Kevin O'Brien (4) and Paul Stirling (17) both back in the hutch with 23 on the board as Sheldon Cottrell kept a tight grip on proceedings, claiming 2 for 10 in his four-over spell. Skipper Balbirnie (36) and Gareth Delany (44) got the innings back on track with a third wicket stand of 72 in 7 overs, with Delany taking a distinct liking to the leg-spin of Hayden Walsh.

Walsh had proved a real handful in previous encounters but struggled in the wet conditions, with Delany smashing him for four consecutive sixes, one of which soared out of the ground. Skipper Kieron Pollard took matters into his own hands, stalling the Irish charge with a career best four-wicket haul.

Harry Tector struck two sixes in his 31 from 23 balls, before the Irish innings game to an abbreviated end following another stoppage, with three wickets falling to the last three balls - including two run outs. The final delivery saw Pembroke team-mates Barry McCarthy and Josh Little have a frank exchange of views after Little offered no shot to what he thought was a wide, and then opted against trying for a bye.

It mattered little in the end as the weather gods had the final say.