Colombo, Sep 24: West Indies entered the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 by virtue of superior net run-rate after their final group league encounter against Ireland was called off due to heavy downpour at the R Premadasa Stadium, here today.
Despite both finished on a point each having lost their respective match against Australia, it was West Indies who qualified with a superior run-rate of -1.855 than Ireland's -2.092 and will be playing the Super Eights against New Zealand, England and hosts Sri Lanka.
The only worry for Darren Sammy's men will be entering the next stage without having won a single match among the eight teams that will be fighting it out in the Super Eights.
A disciplined effort by West Indies bowlers saw them restrict Ireland to a modest 129 for six in the rain-curtailed final Group B match.
The match was reduced to 19-overs-a-side affair after steady drizzle delayed the proceedings by 50 minutes.
Chris Gayle was the most successful bowler with figures of two for 21 while Ravi Rampaul, captain Darren Sammy, Fidel Edwards and Sunil Narine got a wicket apiece after the West Indian skipper opted to field.
Ireland captain William Porterfield was again out of the very first ball of the match. After Shane Watson got rid off him with a perfect bouncer in their last game, it was Fidel Edwards' turn to clean him up with a lethal yorker which he failed to dig out.
Paul Stirling (19) and Ed Joyce (17) then hit a few lusty blows as Ireland reached 33 for one after five overs when steady drizzle stopped play.
After a break of nearly an hour, the proceedings started once again and off-spinner Narine removed Joyce. It was an off-break which saw the left-hander getting bowled round his legs.
