GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Rain derailed Ireland’s World Twenty20 Championship campaign, but England benefited as they squeezed into the second round of the tournament when their Group D contest was washed out here yesterday.

Chasing a modest 121 for a Super Eight berth, Ireland’s reply was twice interrupted by rain with the last break sealing their fate, as the downpour forced a no result at 14-1 in the fourth over.

Both teams were awarded a point and with both sides having lost their first games, it meant that England advanced based on their superior net run rate.

It was a close shave for the English, coming after they emerged the worst off from their rain-hit game against West Indies on Monday after that contest was decided under the Duckworth/Lewis Method.

Sent in to bat, England could not repeat their heroics of 24 hours earlier against West Indies and only Eoin Morgan with 45 from 37 balls and Luke Wright, with 20 from 24 balls, offered resistance.

Fast bowlers Kevin O’Brien (2-22) and Boyd Rankin (2-25) snatched crucial wickets and supported by a superb catching effort, Ireland never allowed England to get into stride.

The dangerous opening pair of Michael Lumb (14) and Craig Kieswetter (13) never blossomed as O’Brien broke the stand at 24 for one in the fifth over, prising out Lumb to a catch by Rankin at fine leg.

Kieswetter followed soon afterward when he failed to beat John Mooney’s throw after setting off for a single that never was and being sent back by Kevin Pietersen at 32-2 in the sixth over.

Paul Collingwood edged medium pacer Trent Johnson to Andre Botha at slip without scoring three balls later and when Pietersen pulled O’Brien to Mooney in the deep to depart for nine at 49 for four in the 10th over, England were tottering.