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A nail-biting last ball win by Ireland today gave Ireland the perfect momentum going into the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament. The match featured a five-wicket haul for Boyd Rankin, a steadying innings of 79 by Andrew Balbirnie and a boundary off the last ball by George Dockrell as Ireland defeated old rivals Scotland at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Ireland have had the recent run of results over the Scots, having beaten them twice in January this year, but this form meant nothing today as the two sides wanted to head into their respective first competitive matches on Sunday in good form.

After Scottish Captain Kyle Coetzer called correctly at the toss, the Scots chose to bat first under grey skies.

Early on a devastating spell of new-ball bowling by Tim Murtagh (3-42, 9.3 overs) saw both openers back in the pavilion with only 12 runs on the board – importantly one of these wickets being opposition captain and dangerman Coetzer (5).

Four more wickets fell by the 16th over mark, with the 6’7” paceman Boyd Rankin (5-38, 10 overs) causing havoc with the Scottish middle order. Rankin’s pace and bounce were too much for many, but with Scotland teetering on 60-6, the Scottish pair of Matthew Leask and George Munsey found themselves with a rescue effort required.

And rescue the innings, they did. The pair first steadied and then dominated the bowling, putting on 156 runs for the seventh wicket with Leask (91 runs; 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Munsey (77 runs; 2 fours, 2 sixes) lifting the Scottish total to a competitive 239 (all out, 49.3 overs). Barry McCarthy was the other wicket taker for Ireland with 2-54 (10 overs).

The Ireland innings got off to a rocky start losing opener Paul Stirling for 3. Stirling was in magnificent form having scored 312 runs across his last two innings, but today he fell early, caught off the bowling of opening Scotland bowler Stuart Whittingham (2-36, six overs).

To the wicket strode Andrew Balbirnie who had scored 97, 44 and 37 in his last three innings. Balbirnie once again looked to play the mainstay innings today, scoring 79 runs (100 balls; 4 fours, 1 six) and batting for 35 overs, and featuring in a 90-run partnership with Niall O’Brien. As wickets fell around him, Balbirnie was determined to remain positive but finally fell caught behind with Ireland still requiring 82 runs from the last 11.4 overs.

Enter George Dockrell who had only 14 runs to his name in his last two innings on tour so far. Dockrell set about his innings with aplumb, and held his nerve in a match-winning innings of 47* (38 balls; 3 fours). Starting with a 46-run partnership off seven overs with Gary Wilson (21 runs off 33 balls; 1 four), Dockrell then shepherded the tail through the last overs.

The loss of Wilson left Ireland with 38 runs to win off 27 balls, but a cameo innings by tail-ender Boyd Rankin (12* off 5 balls; 2 fours) and a remarkable 11 runs taken from the last over – including a boundary of the last ball by Dockrell – secured a dramatic victory for Ireland.

Image: Boyd Rankin takes a well earned drink after claiming five wickets

George Dockrell was speaking after the game:

“I thought the bowlers were brilliant up front. Tim Murtagh bowled brilliantly – he, Barry [McCarthy] and Boydy [Boyd Rankin], in fact all the bowlers did well. Bowling first in these conditions was tricky, it swung about a bit and to take those early wickets was great. Full credit to Scotland who fought back well and posted a pretty good total.”

“Our batting, there were a number of good performances. Balbo [Andrew Balbirnie] looked really good again, he and Nobby [Niall O’Brien] had a lovely little partnership there, and also Wils [Gary Wilson] almost brought it home at the end.”

“It’s great to win a game like that, a tight game – there’s going to be a number of tight games in the tournament – so to get over the line today is great for the lads.”

“We’ve had a lot of cricket up to this moment, and that’s what we wanted. These warm-up games have given us some great time with bat and ball, in quite a few different conditions and on differing pitches. That will help with the different conditions we’ll meet during the tournament. I think the guys are in a good place, we’re just dying to get into it and crack on with the first match.”

Ireland now heads into the first competitive match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament with momentum. The first match on Sunday 4 March 2018 will be against the Netherlands at the Old Hararians Ground in Harare.

MATCH SUMMARY

IRELAND v SCOTLAND, 50-over match, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

• Scotland 239 all out (49.3 overs; M Leask 91, G Munsey 77; B Rankin 5-38, T Murtagh 3-42)
• Ireland 243-8 (50 overs; A Balbirnie 79, G Dockrell 44*; T Sole 2-53)

Ireland won by two wickets.

Tim Murtagh claimed two vital early wickets
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