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DUBAI – For the second match in a row between Ireland and Scotland the result has been a 1-run victory – this time to the Scots – after a courageous run chase saw the men in green defeated by the barest of margins in an ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier warm-up match today.
After losing the toss, Ireland bowled first on what seemed a batting-friendly track. The Scots top-order fired, and were 78-0 in the 7th over before the first wicket fell. The main damage was done by George Munsey who hit 86 runs from 41 balls – an innings which included five sixes. A quickfire 39 from 18 balls by Oli Hairs continued the momentum, but the middle-order succumbed to improved bowling, at one stage losing 5-47. Scotland’s final total of 210-8 was

For Ireland, David Delany returned to the side after missing the Oman series with an impressive 3-35, while spinners George Dockrell (2-36) and Gareth Delany (1-33) helped pull the run rate back.

END OF INNINGS: Scotland finished on 210-8. @DelanyDavid traps Josh Davey off the last ball.

Scorecard: https://t.co/S8yBqjT8BM#BackingGreen pic.twitter.com/xL0r1bh7d7

— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) October 15, 2019

Ireland’s response did not start well, losing Kevin O’Brien first ball for a duck, but soon gathered momentum. Led by Andy Balbirnie (70 from 48 balls), and supported by Gareth Delany (20 from 9 balls), Harry Tector (22 from 9 balls) and Gary Wilson (22 from 14 balls), the Irish batters kept pace with the run rate required into the middle-overs.

Momentum stalled just after the halfway mark of the run chase, and it took a powerful innings late on by Mark Adair (45 from 24 balls) to get Ireland within a single hit of an unlikely victory. Needing three runs from two balls, Adair fell from the penultimate ball, while David Delany was run out of the last ball making an attempt to get back for two and force a tie. Ireland’s 209-9 was an admirable chase, but agonisingly short, with Scotland prevailing by one run.

SUMMARY SCORECARD

Ireland Men v Scotland Men, T20 International, Dubai, 15 October 2019

Scotland 210-8 (20 overs; G Munsey 86; D Delany 3-35)
Ireland 209-9 (20 overs; A Balbirnie 70, M Adair 45; H Tahir 3-32)

Scotland won by 1 run

• See full scorecard here.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Ireland’s Qualifier fixtures – group stage

• 18 October: Ireland v Hong Kong
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; start 2.10pm local time / 11.10am Irish time
Watch: Sky Sports Cricket
• 19 October: Ireland v UAE
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; start 7.30pm local time / 4.30pm Irish time
Watch: Sky Sports Cricket
• 21 October: Ireland v Oman
ADC 1, Abu Dhabi; start 2.10pm local time / 11.10am Irish time
• 23 October: Ireland v Canada
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; start 2.10pm local time / 11.10am Irish time
• 25 October: Ireland v Jersey
ADC 1, Abu Dhabi; start 10am local time / 7am Irish time
• 26 October: Ireland v Nigeria
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; start 10am local time / 7am Irish time

SQUAD

The squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is:

Gary Wilson (Northern Knights) (Captain), Mark Adair (Northern Knights), Andrew Balbirnie (Leinster Lightning), David Delany (Northern Knights), Gareth Delany (Leinster Lightning), George Dockrell (Leinster Lightning), Shane Getkate (Northern Knights), Kevin O’Brien (Leinster Lightning), Boyd Rankin (North West Warriors), Simi Singh (Leinster Lightning), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Harry Tector (Northern Knights), Stuart Thompson (North West Warriors), Lorcan Tucker (Leinster Lightning), Craig Young (North West Warriors).

Craig Easdown
Matthew Cross batting against Ireland
No
Connaught