CricketIreland lost their opening tie of the European Championships to the reigning champions, ECB, in Utrecht yesterday, without either side hitting a ball.

A downpour on Saturday evening left the Kampong CC ground unplayable the following day, and an unsatisfying bowl-out was ordered. As is nearly always the case, the vast majority of the balls bowled failed to hit the stumps, and with each side given 10 chances, the England XI eventually took the points by just two hits to one. Chris Mole and Elliot Wilson struck for the English. Only Naseer Shoukat was on the mark for Ireland.