Summary Ireland gave a debut to Barry McCarthy of English county side Durham.
MALAHIDE (AFP) - Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at Malahide on Thursday.
Ireland gave a debut to Barry McCarthy of English county side Durham, while John Anderson of Dublin club side Merrion was selected for the first ODI against a Test nation.
Sri Lanka included only four of the side which played in their last ODI against New Zealand in January -- captain Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga.
They gave ODI debuts to Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka but there was no place in their XI for the recalled Farveez Maharoof.
Rain delayed Thursday’s scheduled start by approximately 30 minutes but, as yet, there had been no reduction in overs.
For Sri Lanka, who on Monday drew the rain-affected third Test at Lord’s as they suffered a 2-0 series defeat by England, the matches against Ireland came ahead of their return to England for a five-match ODI series and lone Twenty20.
Thursday’s fixture was the first of a two-match ODI series between Ireland and Sri Lanka, with the second match, also at Malahide, taking place on Saturday.
Ireland are also due to play a two-match series against Pakistan, the second major side touring England this year, in August.
Teams
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Gary Wilson (wkt), Kevin O’Brien, Stuart Poynter, Max Sorensen, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, John Anderson
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal (wkt), Dhananjaya de Silva, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dasun Shanaka, Upal Tharanga
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Mark Hawthorne (IRL)
TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
