Ireland easily beaten by Canterbury in tour game

Poynter's 57 came from 71 balls with five fours

Ireland suffered a 117-run defeat at the hands of Canterbury in their penultimate tour match in New Zealand.

Ronnie Hira hit a superb 170 for the hosts in Lincoln before retiring as the hosts racked up 382-6.

Andy Balbirnie and Niall O'Brien put on an opening stand of 112 while Andrew Poynter top-scored with 57, but the Irish were all out for 265 in 48 overs.

Ireland complete their eight-game World Cup warm-up tour on Thursday against Otago at the same venue.

The Irish were beaten by Northern Districts in their opening match in New Zealand before Saturday's game against a New Zealand XI was abandoned because of rain in Hamilton.

Canterbury made an impressive start at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, with openers Henry Nicholls (71) and Hira clocking up 193 before Kevin O'Brien finally struck for the tourists.

Hira retired after the left-hander and Peter Fulton (57) added another 100 runs to leave Canterbury on 293-2.

There were two run-outs as the hosts eased to 382-6 with Kevin O'Brien (1-21), George Dockrell (1-74) and Craig Young (1-79) the wicket-takers.

Balbirnie and Niall O'Brien both scored 55 to give Ireland a glimmer of hope but it was slow progress with Poynter's 57 coming from 71 balls.

John Mooney (25) and Graeme McCarter (24) chipped in with lower-order runs as the Irish fell well short of the target.

The World Cup warm-up tour started in Australia with two defeats by Queensland Bulls followed by two victories over ACT Comets.