Twenty20 tri-series: Ireland clinch series with single-run win over Scotland
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
| Twenty20 tri-series, Malahide, Ireland: |
| Ireland (20 overs) 186-9: O'Brien 63, G Delany 25; Sole 2-26, Tahir 2-32 |
| Scotland (20 overs) 185-6: Berrington 76, Cross 66; Adair 2-30 |
| Ireland won by one run |
| Scorecard |
Ireland clinched the Twenty20 tri-series after a dramatic single-run victory over Scotland in Dublin.
In a tense climax, Scotland needed three runs from their last ball but registered a single before Craig Wallace was run out by Gary Wilson.
It meant Scotland finished on 185-6 after Ireland had posted a total of 186-9.
Ireland bounced back after having been defeated by the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Kevin O'Brien top-scored for Ireland with 63 while Gareth Delany hit 25.
Stand-in skipper Richie Berrington made 76 for Scotland with seven fours and five sixes, while Matthew Cross hit 66.
After a spirited fightback from Ireland's bowlers, it all came down to the final delivery, with Scotland needing three, only for Wallace to come up shy with his attempted scoop shot to give Ireland a last-gasp victory at Malahide Castle.
The manner of Ireland's win was a fitting end to a dramatic week which began with Sunday's opening game between the men in green and the Netherlands having been rained off without a ball being bowled.
Ireland regrouped to beat Scotland by four balls with 14 balls to spare on Tuesday before falling to a Ben Cooper-inspired Dutch side on Wednesday.
It was despair for Scotland after their convincing victory over the Netherlands had set up Friday's decider at Malahide.
Ireland finish on 10 points, with second-placed Scotland on eight and the Netherlands on six.
What's next?
All three teams will now focus on the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October and November.
Six of the 14 sides involved - Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jersey, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Singapore and the UAE - will qualify for the T20 World Cup in Australia next year.
However, before that, Ireland play a brief quadrangular T20 series with Oman, Hong Kong and Nepal, starting on 5 October.
