Obviously the first game against Sri Lanka did not go to plan. If we had been offered the opportunity to chase 220 before the game, I think we would have taken it.

Having said that, we conceded 80 runs in the last 10 overs and really should have kept them to under 200 on a pitch that was offering assistance to both seam and spin bowling.

Like I said though, 220 is still a score that we should be chasing. Where we let ourselves down was the three quick wickets in the middle order. Losing the two O'Briens and myself the way we did in such a short period of time is always going to be difficult to recover from.

Suddenly 63-2 became 70-5. You aren't going to win too many games of cricket like that.

Niall was playing really well and clearly the hundred he got last week for Leicester has done his confidence the world of good and he struck the ball nicely from the start. After he got out there was a heavy mix up between the captain and myself, two people that have been batting together for the best part of 17 years (that makes me feel old)

He dropped the ball in to the leg side and took off, to be fair to him there have been plenty of times in the past where all that we have needed was a look and we knew to run. This time there was just that bit of confusion. In the end it was best for me to be the one run out as he was set and going well. It was avoidable and again not what you need when trying to chase down a total.

Kevin will be disappointed in the way he got out, especially having just lost two wickets previously to that and when Stuart Thompson was LBW to Ajantha Mendis two overs later our chances were all but gone.

Credit should go to Tim Murtagh, he bowled beautifully with the new ball and again got us into a position where we could have gone on to win the game. I thought pretty much all of our bowlers executed well for the most part of the innings, save perhaps the last 5 overs.

It's a period that has let us down in the past and something we are aware of. There were positives to take out of the game though and as always we try to take the positives with us and leave the things we did badly behind, whilst also recognising and trying to rectify them.

We move on to tomorrow's game fully confident that we can get the win we want. Unfortunately there would be no 'tomorrow's game" with the elements taking control in North Dublin. A real shame.

We owed the crowd a good performance after the disappointment of two days ago but unfortunately we didn't get the opportunity. Typically, the weather cleared up about 30 minutes after the umpires, guided by the Clontarf groundsman, called time on proceedings and we were left to have a drink in the pavilion with various family members, supporters and sponsors. Looking out at the sun drenched evening.

This was probably the only opportunity we had as a full squad for the whole summer, so it was a disappointing end. The next cricket in Irish colours is three one day games against the Sri Lankan "A" team followed by two against Scotland, none of which carry the "mandatory release" tag required by counties to let players go.

So again it will give other players a good chance to stake their claim for selection when everyone is available. It was such an opportunity that saw the emergence of Stuart Thompson two years ago as he made his debut against South Africa "A" and Phil and the selectors will be hoping that someone else gives them food for thought this time round.

For the rest of the guys it is back to county cricket, with most of us having a fixture starting on Sunday. They certainly come thick and fast and before we know it, we'll be smack bang in the middle of T20's. A format, from a Surrey perspective, that I'm very excited about.