In a contest of squandered opportunities Ireland lost by 10 runs to Sri Lanka at Lincoln Green in Christchurch, New Zealand, yesterday to slump to their third successive defeat in the Women's Cricket World Cup. There were nine run-outs in all, five of them Sri Lankans, in what is believed to be a world record of such dismissals in a one-day match.

The Irish bowlers contained the opposition well and only two batters - Hiroshi Abeysinghe and Lucy de Silva - reached double figures. Abeysinghe's 52 was hit off 112 deliveries, including four fours, and she batted through to the 47th over. Though she didn't take a wicket, Catherine O'Neill bowled well, conceding only 13 runs from her 10 overs.

Meantime, the Ireland men's squad will spend from March 17th to 30th in Johannesburg in the build-up to next summer's ICC World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Toronto.