5.12pm It's been officially called off, folks. A pity, because this match was so interestingly poised. Fifties from Porterfield and Balbirnie to set the platform, then Ireland scored 50 off 32 balls between rain interruptions to give themselves a genuine chance if we'd had some sort of shortened chase. It wasn't to be, unfortunately, but a good, competitive game for as long as it lasted.

Looks like we won't have a presentation ceremony. We'll update who the Player of the Match is, and so forth, when we get to know. But for today, that is all from Malahide. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, it's goodbye from me, Hemant, Binoy and Ranjith.

5.05pm The umpires are out for what looks like an inspection, though the covers are still on and they're carrying umbrellas. Feels like the prelude to a calling-off, but we'll wait for official word.

4.57pm Just over half an hour to go for the 5:30 cut-off time. There's still a light drizzle on at Malahide, so I wonder if there's enough time to get the ground ready even if the rain were to stop immediately... but let's see.

Nicholas Fewste: "Good day so far for Ireland. Porterfield back in the runs and Balbirnie continuing his recent form improvement. I think Ireland would be happy defending 154 from 20, and a No Result would go well for any chance of automatic qualification from the super league. They'll still be kicking themselves after only taking 10 points out of 60 against Afghanistan and the Netherlands.Expect Josh Little to be the key man in the second innings for Ireland."

Anubhab Mukherjee: "They didn't take 40 off for 20 overs. Ireland's total would have been adjusted and given they had lost only 2 wickets at the first delay, would have been at least around 215-220 in 40. So they took around 60-65 off for 20 overs."

Azweer: "Hope England's Moeen Ali gets to know about the "Valimai update"" -- Drifting off-topic completely, but yes, I'm sure someone's told him by now.

4.40pm It's still raining at Malahide, though not too heavily by the looks of it. At Hove, meanwhile, England Women need 85 in 72, with eight wickets in hand, to win the second T20I against India.

Akash: "When is the cut-off time for the match?" -- It's 5.30pm, for a 20-overs chase.

No Name: "If it does become a T20 chase Quinton de Kock would've been very important. He got three 50s against Windies while every other Proteas batsman struggled. Not to mention that Verreynne hasn't played a T20I and Miller, Phehlukwayo and Bavuma aren't in a good form."

GBBG: "So they took off 40 runs for 20 overs??" -- Well, the DLS calculation takes into account that a team's approach with 10 wickets to spare over 50 overs would be very different compared to its approach with 10 wickets over 20 overs. As it should.

4.30pm A lot of you have been asking what South Africa's target will be if the chase is reduced to 20 overs. It'll be 154 according to DLS calculations, says Binoy George from our scoring team.

Steve: "Hi there. 154 from 50 overs...do you guys mean if its reduced to 20 overs? " -- 50? Who said 50? I did? When? Oh.

4.25pm A message from Justin Smyth, who follows Ireland cricket more closely than most, and who's at Malahide right now:

"According to the weather forecast, the rain should stop at Malahide around five. Just going to be dependent on how quickly they can dry off the ground to get the 20 overs in for South Africa to try and chase this down. Sun doesn't set till about 10pm, so as long as it stops raining, light shouldn't be an issue.

"Looks like they have to be out there again by 5:30pm to have a 20-over chase. Looks like they are only going to have about 30 minutes to get the ground ready. Although any further rain after that and the games going to be done."

David Cousins: "Would Ireland be happy with a No Result today?" -- They'd appreciate the points, but they'll feel they have a real chance of winning this if play resumes and South Africa come under the pressure of a T20-ish chase.

4.15pm Hello again. It's still raining at Malahide, so there's no chance of a resumption anytime soon. The light's a bit murky too, at the moment, so with no floodlights at the ground, that could become an issue too.

3.50pm It has been a start-stop kind of day because of rain interruptions. The toss itself was delayed by almost an hour. Asked to bat first, Ireland started slowly, with Paul Stirling looking off-colour. Once he was out, Porterfield and Balbirnie steered the innings together. Both batters reached their half-centuries amid rain breaks. A late flourish at the end means they finish with 195 for 4 in 40.2 overs. The covers are still on. A further update will be provided as soon as we have any to share.

And as expected, Ireland's innings is over. We will get to know South Africa's target once we know how many overs they will get.

3.40pm And the covers are coming on. I guess that might be the end of Ireland's innings but wait for the official word.

40.2
1
Rabada to Adair, 1 run, short of length at the batter. Adair backs away and forehands it towards wide long-on
40.1
6
Rabada to Adair, SIX, clubbed over long-on. A full toss from Rabada at the stumps and Adair was waiting for it. Swings across to send it out of the stadium

END OF OVER:
40 | 9 Runs | IRE: 188/4 | RR: 4.70

  • Mark Adair9 (6b)
  • George Dockrell1 (1b)
  • Lungi Ngidi8-0-33-0
  • Kagiso Rabada8-2-36-2
39.6
1
Ngidi to Adair, 1 run, length ball at the stumps. Adair attempts a slog but is early into the shot. Gets it off the toe end of the bat towards covers
39.5
0
Ngidi to Adair, no run, a slower one, short of length in the line of the stumps. Adair was backing away and went for the cut but failed to connect
39.4
1
Ngidi to Dockrell, 1 run, short of length rising towards the batter. Backs away and fends it down the pitch. They are going for a single. Ngidi picks it up but misses the direct hit at the bowler's end

Looks like the drizzle is back. Dockrell to face his first ball

39.3
1
Ngidi to Adair, 1 run, slower length ball. Adair was looking to work it on the leg side. Gets an inside edge on to the back thigh and they sprint across for a single
39.2
0
Ngidi to Adair, no run, a brilliant stop at backward point. Was a length ball outside off. Adair went for the cut but couldn't find the gap
39.1
6
Ngidi to Adair, SIX, that's some improvisation. Ngidi bangs it short outside off and Adair just opened the face of the bat to ramp it over backward point. Hits the rope on the full

Ngidi

END OF OVER:
39 | 11 Runs 2 Wkts | IRE: 179/4 | RR: 4.58

  • Mark Adair1 (1b)
  • Kagiso Rabada8-2-36-2
  • Andile Phehlukwayo7-1-39-1
38.6
W
Rabada to Tector, OUT, short of length outside off. Tector rises with the ball and goes for the cut but manages only an outside edge. A simple catch for Verreynne behind the stumps

HT Tector c †Verreynne b Rabada 25 (35m 28b 2x4 1x6) SR: 89.28

38.5
4
Rabada to Tector, FOUR, Rabada responds with a bouncer but Tector was already backing up. Wasn't in full control as he pulled it. But he gets it over short fine leg and it beats the man at deep-backward square leg

The umpire is sanitising the ball before handing it back to Rabada

38.4
6
Rabada to Tector, SIX, bang!. A length ball around off, Tector hangs back and smashes it over deep midwicket. First six of the day
38.3
0
Rabada to Tector, no run, short of length outside off, goes for the cut but ends up hitting it into the pitch
38.2
1
Rabada to Adair, 1 run, fuller on the stumps, looks to chip it over the bowler's head but gets a thick outside edge towards third man

Mark Adair has been sent in as Ireland look for quick runs

38.1
W
Rabada to Balbirnie, OUT, chipped to midwicket. Rabada strikes straightaway. A slower ball, fuller on the stumps and Balbirnie chipped it straight to Shamsi

A Balbirnie c Shamsi b Rabada 65 (98m 79b 6x4 0x6) SR: 82.27

Last five overs. Can Ireland get another 50 runs here? Here's Rabada

END OF OVER:
38 | 11 Runs | IRE: 168/2 | RR: 4.42

  • Harry Tector15 (24b)
  • Andy Balbirnie65 (78b)
  • Andile Phehlukwayo7-1-39-1
  • Tabraiz Shamsi8-0-35-1
37.6
0
Phehlukwayo to Tector, no run, a bouncer but down the leg side. Tector failed to connect the pull and to his surprise, it hasn't been called a wide
37.5
2
Phehlukwayo to Tector, 2 runs, down the track and he goes over extra cover this time. Once again, he failed to middle it but luckily it landed safely
37.4
4
Phehlukwayo to Tector, FOUR, fuller on the stumps, hoicked towards the leg side. Not the best of the connections but enough on it to drag it to the deep-backward square leg boundary
37.3
1
Phehlukwayo to Balbirnie, 1 run, fuller on the stumps, looks to go over the bowler's head but cannot middle it. Bounces towards long-on
37.2
0
Phehlukwayo to Balbirnie, no run, length ball at the stumps, stays leg side of the ball and pushes it back towards the bowler
37.1
4
Phehlukwayo to Balbirnie, FOUR, looked like a back-of-the-hand slower ball. Floated outside off and Balbirnie threw his bat at it. Off the outer half of the bat and beats third man on his right

END OF OVER:
37 | 9 Runs | IRE: 157/2 | RR: 4.24

  • Andy Balbirnie60 (75b)
  • Harry Tector9 (21b)
  • Tabraiz Shamsi8-0-35-1
  • Andile Phehlukwayo6-1-28-1
36.6
1
Shamsi to Balbirnie, 1 run, tossed up outside off, driven towards sweeper cover. He will retain strike with that single
36.5
0
Shamsi to Balbirnie, no run, slower, on middle and leg. Balbirnie goes for the flick but misses. A stifled appeal. Think it was heading down

Ireland 1st innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st41WTS PorterfieldPR Stirling
2nd87WTS PorterfieldA Balbirnie
3rd40A BalbirnieHT Tector
4th11MR AdairHT Tector
5th16GH DockrellMR Adair