ODI: Ireland vs Australia at Belfast

World Cup winners Australia will be looking to put their Ashes blues behind them as they take on Ireland today in a one-off ODI match in Belfast. This will be just the fourth time Ireland have played a team ranked number one in the world and the first meeting between the sides since 2012.

The weather forecast does not look too great with rain expected. Ireland's last ODI match in May against England was abandoned after 18 overs due to rain. Lets hope the weather holds off and they can get this one in.

170 - 4 after 30 overs

30.2
McBrine to Maxwell, OUT, and another one goes. Maxwell is gone. Ireland coming back into it now.

Maxwell c †O'Brien b McBrine 2

29.2
Murtagh to Bailey, the pressure tells. The lines and lengths work to perfection.The ball takes the top of off and Aus are now three down.

Bailey b Murtagh 1

2.50pm  The rain has become too heavy now. And the umpires call for the covers.

Not too heavy at the moment but enough to take the players off.

Well if the rain holds up and the match is finished then Australia should win easily. Good start for them so far and looking for 300+ runs.

4.18pm The rain has stopped now. The groundstaff are diligently working on the covers

222 - 6 after 40.2

39.1
Mooney to Marsh, straight up in the air and taken. Mooney cleverly delivers it from wider of the crease with a bit of leg cut,
Marsh looks to hit over long-off again but the change in point of delivery helps taking the outer half of the bat.

Marsh c Murtagh b Mooney 11

Target via D/L : 195 off 27 overs !

27 - 2 after 6

1.4
Coulter-Nile to Stirling, gone this time. Flashes outside off again but pays the ultimate price. Swing from a good length outside off,

Stirling looks to drive on the up with no feet movement but the out swing to the right-hander helps in taking the outside edge

Stirling c †Wade b Coulter-Nile  DUCK

0.5
Starc to Porterfield, one good ball is all you need though. Starc gets one absolutely right. Very full on middle and leg, sneaks past

the bat, takes a bit of his pad and takes the stumps more importantly. Unplayable delivery, came back in late ...

Porterfield b Starc 4

  6.15pm Covers coming off as the rain has stopped. A rope being taken across the outfield.

Ireland making a pretty good chase of this. 90 runs need from 60 balls with 8 wickets in hand. Odds are still in Australia's favour (67%), but they have done themselves proud. In saying that, they were helped by the rain and having to chase a smaller target.

And immediately Australia get a vital breakthrough. Ed Joyce out for a swashbuckling 44. 84 needed from 54 balls with 7 wickets in hand.

Edit: And O'Brien goes two overs later. A valiant effort but this one is just about over.