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.
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