IRELAND'S FOURTH and final Benson and Hedges Cup match, against Essex, was abandoned for the second successive day at Downpatrick yesterday.

Each side gets a point, which gives Ireland a total of three - their highest ever in the competition - and puts Essex into a home quarter-final tie, having topped the group, which also included Middlesex, Glamorgan and Somerset.

The Munster squad for their two Senior Interprovincial Championship engagements next weekend includes new cap Anthony Hartigan, a promising young all-rounder from Limerick Cricket Club.

Munster play the Northern Cricket Union at Castle Avenue on Saturday and take on the North West at Malahide on Sunday.