FREE FORESTERS TOURNAMENT

Ireland Under 19's opening fixture in the Free Foresters tournament in Oxfordshire fell victim to the weather, as torrential rain forced the abandonment of the game just 4 overs into the Dutch reply.

A fine spell of bowling from Tijler Tettelaar (4-45) had Ireland in trouble at 57-4, one of those wickets being James Shannon for 26.

Waringstown's Lee Nelson rescued the Irish with a fine knock of 84 from 120 balls (8 fours, 1 six), sharing in the biggest partnership of the match, 43 for the sixth wicket with Shane Getkate, as Ireland's innings finished prematurely on 222-9 from 46.1 overs.

Getkate, currently on the books of Warwickshire, took a wicket with the second ball of the Netherlands innings, but the weather forced the players from the field with the score on 13-1 after four overs.

Ireland's preparations for next week's European Championships in Jersey continue today with a game against a Free Foresters Academy. Two teams from those Championships go forward to a ten team World Cup Qualifying tournament in Canada in September, with six places available for the World Cup proper in New Zealand.

At St Edward's School, Oxford: Ireland U19 222-9 (46.1 ovs) (L Nelson 84, J Shannon 26; T Tettelaar 4-45), Netherlands U23 XI 13-1 (4 ovs). Match abandoned.

Today's Fixture: Ireland U19 v Free Foresters Academy.