ICC World Twenty20 qualifier, Dubai:
Ireland 136-7 (20 ovs) beat Scotland 99 (18.3 ovs) by 37 runs
Match scorecard

Johnston ripped through Scotland's top order. (Picture from Ian Jacobs)

Ireland stayed on course for the ICC World Twenty20 by dumping Scotland out of the qualifiers in Dubai on Thursday.

Scotland needed to win in under 15 overs to have a chance of staying in the competition but the Irish won by 37 runs to progress to the Super Fours.

They made only 136-7 but the Scots were soon 6-4 as Peter Connell and Trent Johnston destroyed the top order before finally being bowled out for 99.

The Netherlands, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates are also through.

Almost certainly, the Irish will have to beat the UAE and the Netherlands on Saturday to earn a place against the big guns in the West Indies later this year.

Only the two finalists from the qualifying tournament will progress and Ireland's opening defeat by Afghanistan on Tuesday meant that Phil Simmons' side could afford no more defeats in order to progress.

The Afghans secured their third successive victory with a 29-run success against the United States.

For the Scots, in addition to Kyle Coetzer's breezy 43, Gordon Drummond also contributed 35 but none of their colleagues got into double figures.

Niall O'Brien and William Porterfield put on 31 for the opening Irish wicket before the wicketkeeper was caught by Fraser Watts off a Drummond delivery for 17.

The Irish then lost three quick wickets to slide to 64-4 after 8.5 overs before Gary Wilson and Andrew White steadied the innings.

Wilson and White were joint-top scorers on 19 but Porterfield (18), Botha (13), John Mooney (10), Kevin O'Brien (10 no) and Johnston (10 no) all got into double figures.

Scotland needed a flying start to have any chance of getting the required win in under 15 overs but instead wickets tumbled.

Connell dismissed Watts and Gavin Hamilton in successive balls and Johnston sent Richie Berrington and Neil McCallum packing to leave the Scots reeling on 6-4.

Johnston's dismissal of Jan Stander increased the damage to 12-5 as the Scots looked set for an extremely embarrassing total.

Coetzer's 43 from 39 balls, which included a six and three fours, helped bring Scotland to 74-5 as he and Drummond produced a 62-run partnership.

But Alex Cusack then made the breakthrough to dismiss the dangerous Coetzer as Scotland's hopes faded.

Young spinner George Dockrell took two late wickets to polish off the Scottish tail including the dismissal of Drummond.

Ireland will face the United Arab Emirates in their opening Super Fours match on Friday.

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