Ireland's second men's One Day International against the West Indies in Clontarf on Friday was abandoned when rain started to fall in between the two innings and did not let up.
The Windies had racked up a huge total of 352 for eight in their innings, but the covers came on after their 50 overs and stubbornly did not relent with the umpires calling off the match just before 5.30pm.
Ireland were set a target of 353 to win, which had they batted would have been their highest run chase ever, surpassing the 329 they reached in winning the 2011 World Cup match against England in Bangalore, the previous highest total Ireland had ever chased down.
Earlier in the day Ireland had won the toss and put the West Indies into bat, hoping to exploit any early movement in the pitch and win the second match of the series.
But the Windies laid a platform, helped by a 102 from Keacy Carty as Matthew Forde helped take the Windies past 300, brutally dismissing the Irish attack, particularly Josh Little, and making his half-century in only 16 balls, equalling the world record set by South African AB DeVilliers in 2015.
Under cloudy skies the home side had success in only the third over as Brandon King nibbled at a Barry McCarthy delivery and was caught at the second slip by Andy Balbirnie with the Windies losing their first wicket with the score on 20.
The dismissal of King was followed by fellow opener Evin Lewis, who after a quick 20, went at a wide ball from Little which was snaffled up by George Dockrell at backward point, reducing the Windies to 46 for two in the seventh over.
But Ireland then found resistance from Carty and captain Shai Hope as the pair put on 78 runs for the third wicket before their was delight for Liam McCarthy who took his first ODI wicket, getting rid of Hope who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker one short of his half century, with the score 127 for three in the 23rd over.
Carty though breezed past his half century, his sixth ODI 50 in the 26th over as he and Amir Jangoo took advantage of what looked like a placid pitch before Jangoo slashed at a wide one from George Dockrell and was caught at short third by Paul Stirling.
Carty though went past three figures in the 36th over as the West Indies looked to put their foot on the accelerator, but he too perished on 102 when the McCarthy-Tucker combination saw the back of the centurion.
Roston Chase went for 24 but Justin Greaves (44 not out) and Forde went hard at the Irish attack as they whizzed past the 300 mark.
Forde became McCarthy’s third wicket, bowled in the 47th over for a cracking 58 as his side scored a staggering 97 runs off the last 37 Irish deliveries.
However the rain came and with no prospect of it stopping, the umpires called it off after a near three-hour delay.
Ireland still lead the three-match series 1-0 with the final and deciding game on Sunday also in Clontarf before the sides play three T20 games at Bready in Tyrone next week.
