South Africa clipped Ireland to secure the final automatic ICC ODI World Cup spot.

This follows a washout in the opening one-day international between Ireland and Bangladesh today at Chelmsford in England. 

The match was abandoned due to rain with Ireland on 63 for 3 after 16.3 overs in response to 246 for 9 made earlier by Bangladesh.

Ireland needed to win this ODI series 3-nil to retain hope of securing ICC World Cup qualification through this route, but will still have one more chance.

Bangladesh have already qualified.

With two more spots for the World Cup in India later this year yet to be decided, Ireland can still make it through a 10-team qualifying tournament in June-July in Zimbabwe.

Other teams involved in the qualifier include two former champions, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Teams already qualified: include host India, along with: New Zealand, England, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and now South Africa.

The second game takes place at the same ground on Friday.