5.18pm And the game has been called off. Both teams pocket five points each but Ireland would think they have been robbed off. They batted well to post a formidable total of 282 for 8 but rain didn't let Zimbabwe start their chase. When it stopped, the outfield was too soft. And that's what prompted umpires to call it off. That's all from our end for this game. See you soon.

Phineas: "160 would a very good target for Zim considering they have at least 8 power hitters here.... Ireland did bat well but weather is not working in their favor at all here"

4.50pm The umpires have decided they will now have an inspection at 5.15pm. Our scorer, Vairavan, tells me if Zimbabwe get 20 overs, their target will be 160.

Dipanjan Show: "As someone who's both a South Africa and Ireland supporter, I thought today could be the day where I could see them both win, one's looking likely to happen but the other doesn't."

Fayaz: "Is Mr.Sun out or Peeping from the Cloud??" --- Clouds still hovering all over the place...

Bimal: "Cut-off time for 20-over match?" --- I think we need to start before 5.35pm.

Jake: "Whats the minimum number of overs will Zimbabwe be expected to bat for us to have a result?" --- We need at least 20 overs.

Thanks, Himanshu. So the wait just got longer.

With that bit of news, welcome Hemant again.

4.27pm Guess what? The outfield is not dry yet. Next inspection at 4.45pm.

4.22pm Still no official word from the ground, although there was some activity and chatter going on near the square until now.

4.06pm So the inspection is less than ten minutes away now. Looks dry at the moment, with some cloud cover on top. We will punch in news as soon as we hear something. One of the ground staff members has a feel of the surface while kneeling on it.

Anyway, before we hear something, tell me what has kept you busy while rain-watching.

Anish: "Enjoying Nepal vs PNG, 2nd ODI." --- And PNG in a dicey position chasing 234...

Dipanjan Show: "Looking up the WC squad for WI certainly has done the job for me. Surprised that Holder isn't in the main team yet." --- That is one of the T20 teams where squeezing in is challenging at the moment.

Phineas: "Those who want a game today sing with me.....rain rain go away come back another day! " --- Rain is already gone. All we want now is the sun!

3.45pm Hello then. Inching closer to the inspection, aren't we?

Anish: "Is there any chance of Match being called off?" --- Are you after an abandonment? It looks dry right now, but all would depend on the inspection, which is 10 mins away.

Tim: "What are the conditions like Himanshu? Is it sunny, overcast, or windy? Does it look like we will see further play?" --- It looks cloudy at the moment. There is no rain around, but that heavy spell means the ground might take some time to dry.

Lewin Zoe: "How many points each team will get when the game is called off?" --- The teams will be getting five points each, half of what they would have got for a win.

While we wait for the inspection, here's Himanshu to keep you company.

3.20pm The covers are slowly coming off now. We will have an inspection at 4.15pm.

Martin: "True @Joe, but Ireland scored 203 in the last 30 overs, when they had all 10 wickets in hand at the end of the 20th, so not massively different."

joe: " u see @ martin....then zim will have to play a runrate of 7, way above ireland played the entire innings."

Martin: "The numbers in response to @Fayaz are only true if the chase is cut off after 30 overs. If they start with 30 overs to play, the target is 212 (188/25)" --- Okay, our scorer just told me if Zimbabwe get 30 overs, their target will be 210. 250 if they get 40 overs.

John: "You know what, I love DLS! Love how it's always right(ish) and that no-one really knows how it works. Is there anything more cricket in cricket?"

Fayaz: "Just to know I'm asking? Suppose if Zimbabwe allow to play for 30 overs,what would be the target?" --- 182 for the loss of five wickets, or 203 for the loss of six. Okay, scratch that. Those are the par scores for the 30-over mark at the moment. I will get back to you with the target in a bit.

3.10pm Looks like rain has relented. It has certainly got a lot brighter.

Martin: "@Hogan / @Joe: The wickets lost don't matter in DLS when they've batted out the full 50 overs, no?" --- Right you are. Those late wickets don't matter here.

Thanks, Himanshu. Still raining although I can see some people in the middle.

3.03pm Never mind the rain, here comes Hemant for some chatter.

2.48pm The rain continues to clank in Belfast, with no signs of an imminent resumption.

joe: "@hogan..you know i actually thought about those 4 late wickets and smiled when Ireland closed their innings...thats what i meant when i said zim will have to win it in the first twenty.."

"Why not hop over to Nepal vs PNG?- this is the first ever ODI series between the two whilst Sri Lanka and SA have played many times before" --- Bingo, Laurence!

hogan: "those last 4 wickets will make a huge difference in the limited overs calculations"

Dipanjan Show: "Ireland will be disappointed with a shortened game. The lesser the overs, more the chance of a Zimbabwe win. In a long game, not only will Ireland win, the chances of a Zimbabwe collapse gets bigger and Ireland getting a NRR boost."

But while it rains, why not hop over to the cricket in Colombo? Sri Lanka and South Africa play the first T20I of the tour after a well-fought ODI series.

Fayaz: "How does it look??will this rain last for long??" --- I can only answer the first question for now: the rain looks heavy at the moment, and it is pattering down hard.

David: "Great. Ireland finally post a solid opening innings and no result.... ugh" --- No result? I can see 282 runs on the board there, and I am still hoping we'll have a good match here!

2.30pm Hello everyone, and welcome to the chase rain. It is pouring down at the moment, which means the Zimbabwe innings will surely be delayed. The covers are on, with the ground staff in action too.

Titch: "Looks like were going to be talking D/L for the 2nd innings" --- There is some time before we get into that territory.

Mimi: "Are there floodlights at the ground? Real chance we can't get 20 overs in for Zimbabwe with this rain" --- Sadly, none there yet.

Adnan: "How often has a batsman been dismissed with a strike rate of 600" --- That's a good spot. Andy McBrine is the first to be dismissed with a strike rate of 600 in ODIs. The previous highest strike rate where a batter was dismissed was 400 by Sunil Narine (24 off six balls). Click here for the full list.

Chris Moore: "That feels a very big score on this surface, it will be very tough for Zimbabwe from here."

joe: "Zimbabwe threw it away..what a come back by Ireland..zim should try and win this in the first 20 overs otherwise they are in a bit of trouble"

Temba : "I'm still so confused how the lower order pulled that off when Stirling was striking at under 50 and faced so many balls..."

2.05pm A great finish by Ireland, they scored 112 in the last ten overs. Tector scored 55 off 42, Tucker smashed 32 off 20, while Dockrell chipped in with a 19-ball 28. Earlier Porterfield and Stirling gave Ireland a start of 82 in 22.3 overs. Stirling fell for 33 but Porterfield carried on to score 67 off 100. Balbirnie provided some momentum but despite having wickets in hand, at one stage it looked like reaching 250 would be an achievement for Ireland. But their middle order stepped up to take them to a formidable total.

Jack Dyer: "Very heavy rain about 10 miles south of the ground. Think we'll be in for a reduced 2nd innings "

Andy McBrine now