Rain halts Ireland-West Indies match

COLOMBO: Rain stopped play in the crucial Group B match between Ireland and the West Indies at the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Monday.

Ireland, sent in to bat by West Indies captain Darren Sammy, were 33-1 after five overs when the rain drove the players back to the pavilion.

Paul Stirling was unbeaten on 16 and Ed Joyce was on 17 at the break, after skipper William Porterfield had been dismissed first ball.

The winners of the match will join Australia in the Super Eights round, while the losers go home. (AFP)