Morgan stars as Ireland shock Scotland

Ireland 240 for 8 (Morgan 99, McCallan 46) beat Scotland 155 (Hoffmann 31, Langford-Smith 3 for 32) by 85 runs
Scorecard

Ireland stormed to a surprisingly comprehensive 85-run win over Scotland in the 3rd match of the European Cricket Championships at Ayr.

Despite possessing the services of Warwickshire's Dougie Brown, Scotland's performance was limp - especially from their bowlers who suffered with their line and length. Eoin Morgan, the young Middlesex left hander, was the chief beneficiary with a fine 99. He and Niall O'Brien came together with Ireland in the tricky position of 19 for 2, but soon steadied the innings by adding 70 for the third wicket. Morgan played the anchor to O'Brien's aggressive role, bringing up his fifty from 83 balls.

O'Brien, looking settled and increasingly confident after smashing four fours, fell to Craig Wright, the Scotland captain, but Morgan found strong support from Kyle McCallan who struck a brisk 46 to take Ireland to an impressive 240 for 8.

Scotland, though, were never in the hunt for 241. Navdeep Poonia, Brown's Warwickshire team-mate making his debut for Scotland, looked settled and confident at the crease, crunching four boundaries before David Langford-Smith sneaked one through his defence to begin the procession of wickets. When Brown fell for just 11, leaving Scotland on 72 for 4, their hopes were shattered and despite a plucky 31 from the No. 10, Paul Hoffmann, Scotland were dismissed for just 155.

Scotland now face the Netherlands tomorrow at the same ground, while a confident Irish side take on Italy, on Monday, at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow.