Rain ends Ireland’s automatic World Cup hopes

Ireland’s hopes of guaranteeing their spot at the World Cup with a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh came to a soggy end in Chelmsford as the series opener was washed out.

Cricket Ireland relocated the games from its own home venues to Essex in the hope of minimising the potential impact of the weather but saw its worst fears realised as the first ODI was abandoned due to rain.

As a result South Africa have now booked the final automatic spot in the tournament, to be held in India in October and November, leaving Ireland to settle for a place in the qualifying competition in Zimbabwe.