ICC Trophy Final, Clontarf
Scotland 324-8 beat Ireland 277-9 by 47 runs Ryan Watson celebrates his half-century in Dublin on Wednesday |
Scotland charged to their first ICC Trophy success when they defeated Ireland by 47 runs in Dublin.
A brilliant 94 by Ryan Watson and a quick-fire 59 by Dougie Brown helped the Scots to 324 for eight after being put into bat on a flat track.
The Scots had Ireland on the rack early in their innings and only a stubborn 81 by Ed Joyce and 70 from Jeremy Bray helped Ireland to 277 for nine.
Scotland captain Craig Wright claimed three for 49 from his seven overs.
It was opener Paul Hoffman who set out Scotland's stall against some ineffective bowling when he rattled off 22 from the opening three overs.
Once he left the scene it was Watson and Watt who blasted out a 120-run second-wicket stand at over seven an over.
 | WORLD CUP GROUPS Group 1: Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Holland Group 2: Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Bermuda Group 3: New Zealand, England, Kenya, Canada Group 4: Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland |
When Watts departed for 55 after a smart run-out by Andrew White, it was Brown who blasted his way to a half-century and taking Scotland up to the 300-mark.
The rest of the batting order made sure that Ireland had to get off to a blistering start, which they had failed to throughout the tournament.
Right on cue they lost two quick wickets with Dom Joyce and Eoin Morgan with only 11 runs on the board.
But Joyce and Bray knuckled down with their 137-run partnership giving Ireland a ray of hope.
But Ireland had fallen behind in their run rate and when Joyce feel at 185 for five, it was a lost cause.
Only a bright flurry at the end by last-wicket pair Paul Mooney and Gordon Cooke who blasted out 55-run partnership, made the result more respectable.
Both Scotland and Ireland had already qualified for the 2007 ICC World Cup in the West Indies.
Also through are Canada, who defeated Denmark for third place, while Holland also qualify for the Caribbean after they defeated United Arab Emirates for the fifth and final place.