The Twentyfifth Post : Ireland v. Scotland, Game Three, Match Report.

After having controlled the previous two games Ireland found the going a lot tougher today as the Scots continued to improve as the series progressed and claim an easy win in the last match of this three game series.

Chasing Ireland’s total of 241/9 which, despite containing a late flurry of runs still looked under par.

Cross went in the second over, caught on the fine leg boundary hooking a short one from Young, for 1.

The possibility of Young going through the Scottish like a dose of salts again must have loomed large in Scottish minds but Ireland had to wait 35.5 overs before their next wicket as Macleod and Gardner racked up the highest second wicket partnership in One Day Internationals. Their stand of 179 saw them take control of the run rate early and after the mandatory 10 over powerplay Scotland were 50/1.

An aggressive decision to take the batting powerplay immediately (instead of just leaving it to languish until being forced into using it late in the innings) kept the scoring rate consistent. After 15 overs Scotland were 72/1 (compared to Ireland’s 43/1 at the same stage) and in control.

Macleod consistently caught the Irish fielding on the back foot and picked up singles at will, nerdling around the infield and ‘drop and running’ as well as punishing the bad ball all the way to the boundary kept the scoreboard constantly moving. Both MacLeod and Gardner were on their way to centuries until the part time spin of Balbirnie claimed Gardner as his first O.D.I. wicket, caught behind, against the run of play for 89 off 98 balls.

Captain Mommsen joined MacLeod at the crease and saw MacLeod to his century off 128 balls and also saw Scotland home without further incident with 26 balls to spare.

At the start of the day play was delayed for 30 minutes due to dew and some wispy mist. Scotland won the toss for the first time this series and chose to field sending Ireland in to bat under cloudy skies.

Things didn't look good for the Scots as Balbirnie was dropped in the first over off an edge that was a difficult chance for keeper Matty Cross, but one that should've been taken. The miss didn't cost Scotland much as Sharif had Balbirnie L.B.W. to one that kept low a few overs later for 6.

Mommsen juggled the bowling constantly and succeeded in keeping Ireland's scoring rate low. By the time Haq came on to bowl in the 18th over Ireland had worked hard on their way to 49/1.

By the end of Haq’s first over Ireland were 50/3 with Thompson and Anderson back in the dressing room.

Haq was Scotland’s most successful bowler claiming his best figures in O.D.I.s ending with 5/ 54, none more impressive than a sharp caught and bowled as he parried a full blooded Sorensen drive to take it with bruised hands on the second attempt.

For the most part the Irish batting lacked staying power as batsmen played themselves in only to get out. Mooney was the one to stand up and be counted and scored his first half century in four years. He started watchfully and moved up the gears as the game progressed. He finally fell on 96 off the penultimate ball of the innings, caught at point going for the boundary that would give him a well deserved century. Coming in when Ireland’s score was 95/3 and leaving when he had guided them to 240/9 he was the one responsible for Ireland’s fighting total and a knowledgeable crown thanked him warmly for his contribution.

It was an inning in vain though as Scotland brought some long overdue composure to their performance and head home with a consolation victory to smile about despite losing the series two games to one.

 

You can see the published version on CricketEurope ... HERE.

The Twentyforth Post : Ireland v. Scotland, Game Two, Match Report.

Another sunny day, another Irish victory in this three match series against Scotland.

For the second time in this series the start of play was delayed by dew on the outfield but for the second time it didn't stop Ireland winning the toss, choosing to field, and wrapping up this game early. This time with 5.4 overs to spare with three wickets in hand.

It should not have been as close as it was as Ireland were cruising toward Scotland's sub par score of 221 before some lapses in concentration saw them lose wickets at unnecessary points. Both openers, Balbirnie and Anderson, getting in and making starts before both losing their wickets caught behind off the bowling of Davey.

Andrew Poynter was dropped on 8 as Wardlaw was slow to react to a skied hit at fine leg and couldn't buy a boundary for most of his 21 runs off 50 ball innings. He didn't need to while Kevin O’Brien was at the wicket with him. Their partnership of 68 was the best of the Irish innings with O’Brien looking unstoppable and in good touch. He carried over his form from the previous match to rack up another imperious half century and looked certain to steer Ireland home over the line again.
He brought up his 50 off 52 balls with a 4 off Ali Evans, bowling his best in a Scotland Shirt, and 50 partnership with Poynter of 60 balls.

It was only a great catch by wicketkeeper Matthew Cross of the bowling of Ali Evans, that managed to dislodge him for 67 off 65 balls but by then he had guided his nation to safety at 157/4 in the 31st over.

Ireland stuttered after the captains dismissal losing regular wickets as the Scots desperately squeezed what pressure they could out of the game but even losing three wickets for 29 runs couldn't shake Ireland off the scent of victory and they pass Scotland's total with 3 wickets in hand with 34 balls to spare.

Earlier in the day Max Sorensen and Craig Young played their own game of 'Wickets Tag' as they ran through the top order of the Scottish batting. Sorensen opened the bowling and looked fierce from the start showing the upstart, Craig Young, how it’s done. He had Matty Cross trapped L.B.W. for 4 with the third ball of the first over with one that stayed low. Young opened from the other end and Bowled MacLeod for 4 with his third delivery that was fast and full. The very next over Sorensen moved ahead as he bowled the Scottish Captain, Mommsen, off an inside edge for 3.

After three overs Scotland are 11/3 and reeling. Berrington was the next in and with Gardner set about righting the ship and stopping the flow of wickets. By the end of the 10 over powerplay they have dragged Scotland to 39/3 and showing signs of being able to push the score on.

Sorensen and Young continued to keep the bowling tight and its Sorensen who gets the next breakthrough claiming Gardner in the 11th over for 13 chasing a wide one and nicking to the keeper.

Berrington is the only Scottish batsman to survive the Max and Craig tag team rampage and his 101 not out of 126 balls  contains eight 4's and one 6 and is the only thing between being bundled out for another embarrassing score and setting the semi decent total of 221 that gave Scotland some hope of defending.

It was not enough though and Ireland take another well played for and well deserved victory. Ireland also the series with one game still to play on Friday.

p.s. in the end it was Max Sorensen who won the tag team challenge with his figures of 10 overs 4 wickets for 40 runs (his best in O.D.I for Ireland against Craig Young's effort of 10 overs 3 wickets for 39.

You can see the published version on CricketEurope ... HERE.

The Twentythird Post : Ireland v. Scotland, Game One, Match Report.

For the first time in a long time Ireland and Scotland face off against each other without any qualifying points or table position or playoffs for world cup places. This may lead you to think that the pressure is off or the intensity lessened and that a little relaxing game of cricket would play out today under the bright skies and warm sunshine and that everyone would have a jolly good time. 

The extra frisson of excitement with these games comes with the knowledge that there are still a few World Cup places on the line for players hoping to make it onto that plane. A good performance during this series could see them seal their ticket for that journey of a lifetime. 

Craig Young did his best to book his seat on that plane by taking five wickets for 46. The 8th best on debut in O.D.I and only the 2nd associate nation player to take five in a O.D.I. match (behind Codrington of Canada) 

After Ireland won the toss and chose to field they looked unusually scrappy at the start of the innings and watched Scotland set a good pace to be 51/1 after 10 overs. 

A change of ends for Young saw the first of his wickets come immediately. MacLeod caught at slip for 25. 

Gardner followed soon after, bowled through the gate for 10, before Young claimed the Scottish captain, Mommsen, for his third victim. After 15 overs Scotland were stalling and Ireland were applying the squeeze. The pressure drew some soft dismissals as the Scots struggled to rebuild. By the 26th over Scotland were 105/7, their innings in tatters. 

It was left to the normally big hitting Leask to restrain himself and make sure his bowlers had something to work with. Along with Sharif he puts together the best partnership of the Scottish innings, a 57 ball fifty.  

Young is brought back into the attack to break up the promising partnership and succeeds almost immediately by removing Sharif caught behind of a thin under edge for 18. 

Leask pushed on and brought up a chanceless 50 at a run a ball before the man of the moment deceives him with a slower ball bouncer that deflects off his gloves onto his chest before ballooning through to the keeper. 

Haq and Wardlaw fail to add any runs between them and Scotland were all out for 172 with 8.3 overs remaining unused. 

 
Ireland have bungled Scotland out so quickly and efficiently that Ireland must bat for 20 minutes before lunch can be taken. 

With no pressure on their openers, Anderson and Balbirnie, take things slow and play for lunch. Anderson falls to L.B.W. to Wardlaw before the lunch can be taken and Ireland walk off for a sandwich and frozen oranges with the score on 28/1 after 8 overs. 

 After lunch Mommsen juggled his bowlers with success coming via Davey claiming Andrew Poynter caught behind for 16 in the 15th over. Kevin O’Brien settles in to close out the innings with a minimum of fuss and gathers a quality half century along the way finishing not out with a run a ball 56, passing 2000 O.D.I runs along the way and another impressive Irish victory. 

The clouds gathered as the game drew to a close but the only Scotland felt the sudden chill. The Irish fans and players were too busy having a jolly good time in the sunshine. 

 The second game of the series takes place on Wednesday. 

You can see the published version on CricketEurope ... HERE.