Despite an overwhelming defeat today by 70 runs at the hands of Sri Lanka, Ireland still have their destiny in this World Cup Tournament in their own hands.

WHEN Ireland prepare for games they are heavily reliant on team analyst Scott Irvine to give them the low-down on their opponents but, for this evening’s second T20 World Cup clash against group favourites Sri Lanka, they have someone with an even higher authority in their own camp.

Sri Lanka became the first team to progress from the First Round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 into the Super 12s after an emphatic 70-run win against Ireland.

Curtis Campher may be only 22 years of age but if he is still wearing the green shirt of Ireland in fifteen years time this is a day that he will never forget and almost certainly never repeat as a bowler.

CURTIS CAMPHER became the first bowler to take four wickets in as many balls at a T20 World Cup as Ireland made a dream start to their campaign in Abu Dhabi with a crushing seven-wicket victory over the Netherlands.

Curtis Campher’s devastating four wickets in four balls helped Ireland to romp home to a seven-wicket victory in their opening T20 World Cup fixture against the Netherlands.

Amy Hunter celebrated her 16th birthday in style by scoring a record breaking century as Ireland Women beat Zimbabwe by 85 runs to clinch a 3-1 series win.

Ireland Women bounced back to beat Zimbabwe Women by 80 runs to level the series at 1-1.

Ireland captain Laura Delany is backing her side to bounce back from their opening ODI loss against Zimbabwe.

An unbeaten century from Zimbabwean captain Mary-Anne Musonda trumped 88 from Irish captain Laura Delany as the hosts won the tour opener by four wickets in Harare.

Shauna Kavanagh is keener than most to make up for lost time as Ireland prepare to take on Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Jack Dickson’s century for Ireland U19 at the World Cup regional qualifier was the 24th scored by an Irishman at that level.

A look at the tournament averages for the successful Ireland Under 19 squad which qualified for the World Cup next January in the West Indies.

It was deja vu all over again as Matthew Humphreys proved Scotland's nemesis for the second time in two days as Ireland qualified for the Under 19 World Cup.

Ireland skittled Scotland for just 44 runs to advance to the final of the U19 World Cup European qualifiers after a superb all-round performance by Lisburn all-rounder Matthew Humphreys.

Ireland Women will play a four-match ODI series against Zimbabwe next month.

Jack Dickson carried his bat for an unbeaten century to help Ireland beat Jersey by 40 runs to keep alive their World Cup hopes at the U19 qualifiers in Spain.

Ireland's hopes of qualifying for next year’s Under-19 World Cup finals got off to a bad start when they lost their opening group game to Netherlands by 33 runs.

IRELAND Wolves’ game with the Zimbabwe tourists was always going to be more about individual performances rather than the result but to get so close, must be seen as another missed opportunity.

GRAEME McCarter put himself firmly in the frame for an Ireland recall in the World Cup Super League series against Netherlands next month with career best figures for the Wolves against the Dutch A side.

Graeme McCarter's six-wicket haul helped Ireland Wolves clinch the series decider against Netherlands A with a convincing five-wicket win at Oak Hill.

Vivian Kingma and Paul van Meekeren's new-ball burst reduced Ireland Wolves to 10 for 5, and unlike Tuesday there was to be no comeback against a ruthless Dutch attack.

Irelands Wolves beat Netherlands A by 94 runs in Oak Hill in the first international cricket match on the island since September 2019.

A record last wicket stand of 89 between Shane Getkate and Peter Chase was the difference between the teams as Ireland Wolves won the delayed first game in the three-match series against Netherlands A at Oak Hill.

Carl Robinson is set for pastures new after confirmation that he is leaving North Down.

North Down have signed South African all-rounder Neil Brand for the 2022 season.

English all-rounder Neil Whitworth will be playing for Lisburn during the 2022 season.

New Zealand international Seth Rance is set to join CIYMS for the 2022 season.

It wasn't the best of seasons for Lisburn who finished bottom of the Premier League, winning 3 of their 14 matches, while they exited the senior cup at the second round stage.

Ireland umpire turned match referee Graham McCrea is enjoying the Spanish sunshine this week officiating at the T20 World Cup Qualifier (Europe).

Donemana have confirmed the signing of Patrick Kruger as their overseas professional for the 2022 season.

Marco Marais has been confirmed by Fox Lodge as their overseas professional for the 2022 season.

Sometimes these results are just written in the stars. One of the great backstories to the game was the fact that one of their players, young Curtis Ross, lost his father suddenly a few weeks ago.

There were mixed emotions for Bready Women at the weekend as they played in the inaugural All-Ireland Women’s T20 finals day at Magheramason.

Dick Forrest on the sad passing of Civil Service stalwart Brian Brennan.

Phoenix and Leinster Lightning batsman Jamie Grassi made a winning start on his debut for Italy as they beat Denmark by six wickets in their T20 World Cup qualifier Europe.

Deryck Vincent reflects on the highs and lows of travelling to Northern Ireland during and after the troubles.

Bobby Swarbrigg takes a look back at the 2021 season in Leinster.

Deryck Vincent reviews the 2021 cricketing year in Leinster.

Edward Liddle looks back on the life of Norman Lush : master i/c cricket at St Columba's.

I will lay my cards on the table here; I love the art and skill of running between the wickets.

Never mind an All Time Irish XI or a One Cap Wonders side, what would be be best team composed of those who failed to catch the selectorial eye.

We take a look at the top 10 run scorers and wicket takers from the 2021 Irish interpro series.

North West Warriors signed off the domestic season in emphatic fashion with a superb eight wickets victory over holders Leinster Lightning and claim the T20 inter-provincial Trophy.

The final series of matches in the T20 Trophy were interesting in many ways. We look at some of the main talking points coming out of a rain affected three days.

North West Warriors face a final day shoot-out with Leinster Lightning this afternoon in Comber with the T20 Trophy at stake after they lost yesterday’s only game to Munster Reds.

The North West Warriors produced a clinical all-round display as they hammered defending champions Leinster Lightning by eight wickets to lift the T20 Trophy for the second time.

Half centuries from Gareth Delany and Matt Ford led Munster Reds to an emphatic six wicket win against the North West Warriors at Comber.

BRIGADE can look forward to representing Ireland in next year’s European Cricket League have claiming the All-Ireland T20 title with victory over Cork Harlequins in Rathmines yesterday.

Andy Britton led from the front as Brigade edged out Cork Harlequins by eight runs in the All-Ireland T20 final at Rathmines.

Leinster Under 13s brought the curtain down on the youth interprovincial season with another emphatic win against the North West in the second game of their series at Burndennett.

Robert O'Brien scored 103 and Ethan Marshall made 98 as Leinster beat the North West by 201 runs in the first of their two Under 13 interpros this week.

BRIGADE will meet Cork Harlequins in the final of the All-Ireland T20 final next Sunday after defeating Carrickfergus in the semi-final at Middle Road.

The Scorchers finished the Super Series 4-1 winners, bouncing back from being dismissed for 19 in the first game to restore the natural order with victory in another low-scoring match in the final game.

Brigade captain Andy Britton's unbeaten 42 helped his side to a final over win against Carrickfergus to take the Beechgrove side into next week's decider against Cork Harlequins.

There was agony for the North West Women as they lost a tense thriller against Leinster U19 girls by just three runs at The Mall in Armagh.

Leinster U11s sealed a series win against the Northern Cricket Union with a 47 run win in Match 3 of their four match series.

Leinster drew first blood in the U11 Interprovincial Series with a 28 run win against the NCU at Shaw's Bridge today.

Cork Harlequins stunned Merrion with a six off the penultimate ball to reach the final of the All-Ireland T20 in a dramatic encounter at Anglesea Road.

The Scorchers won both T20 matches against the Typhoons at Oak Hill to clinch the title.

The first semi-final of the All-Ireland T20 competition takes place on Sunday with Merrion taking on Cork Harlequins at Anglesea Road.

Leinster beat Munster by four wickets in a hard-fought Under 15 interprovincial match at The Mardyke.

There were two closely fought contests between the NCU and NW in U13 and U11 interpros at Templepatrick and Muckamore.

Hannah Grieve top scored with an unbeaten 86 as the NCU hammered the NW by 165 runs in their interprovincial clash at Fox Lodge.

Cork Harlequins won the Munster T20 league in a dramatic final-day shoot out which saw four sides vying for the title.

Leah Paul and Ashlee King were the stars as Scorchers beat Typhoons by 86 runs at Oak Hill in the Super Series T20 Trophy.

The North West and NCU will meet in their first women's interpro of the season at Ardmore on Sunday.

CRICKET Ireland reported a surplus of £1.34million for the year 2020 but with virtually no match action last year, the funds are already committed to rescheduled fixtures this year.

The MCC have lined up a busy schedule in Ireland for 2021, including two fixtures against Ireland U19s, a return to the NW to play the Warriors, plus games against Fingal and an Asian Select.

Ireland men’s elite training can resume today after a round of Covid-19 tests were undertaken, with no further positive cases found.

There was cause for double celebration as Munster Club Limerick beat off tough opposition to win the Club of the Year award, while Michael Hickey won the Volunteering Excellence accolade.