On a sunny but bitterly cold morning in Clontarf, Ireland won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat in the first RSA Insurance one day Challenge series.

A largely disciplined bowling display, led by Tim Murtagh restricted the T20 World champions to 219 for 8 wickets.

Murtagh finished with impressive analysis of 2 for 21 from his full quota of 10 overs. Sri Lanka’s top scorer was all- rounder Nuwan Kulasekera who made 42 not out. Several batsmen got starts but could not continue on to play a decisive as the Ireland bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.

Thompson, Cusack, Dockrell, Stirling and Kevin O’Brien each chipped in with a wicket apiece while a fine throw from Niall O’Brien hit the stumps directly to run out the opposition’s skipper, Angelo Mathews for 30. Ireland will be disappointed that Sri Lanka reached 219 as the familiar problem with the death bowling surfaced again as the tail-end batters plundered 43 runs off the last 22 balls of the innings.

However it still leaves Ireland with a very achievable target of 220 to win their first ever home ODI against a Full Member nation.