Ireland win but West Indies take series

Ireland 222 for 7 (N. O'Brien 72, Botha 42, Haq 3-59) beat Scotland 199 (Watson 83, McCallum 54 ) by 23 runs
Scorecard

A tight bowling performance from Andre Botha helped Ireland to beat Scotland, but they could not gain the bonus point needed to share the series title with West Indies. To do that, they needed to bowl out Scotland for 177, but the visitors reached 199. Nevertheless, Ireland will be pleased with their performance after holding their bowling nerve when Scotland were well set.

Botha's tight bowling pegged Scotland back, and he earlier struck 42 to round off an impressive all-round performance in front of a meagre home crowd. His dismissal of Ryan Watson, who made 83, was the turning point of the match as Scotland threatened to overhaul their target. Watson was well supported by Neil McCallum who struck 54. Botha ended with 3 for 27.

Niall O'Brien's 72 lifted Ireland to 222, which was a competitive score on a slow Stormont wicket. John Blain and Paul Hoffman bowled tight first up for Scotland, prompting the dismissal of William Porterfield, attempting to pull, and opening the way for Gordon Drummond to strike to remove Eoin Morgan for 10 in his first over.

Ireland recovered from their early losses, though, through the combined forces of O'Brien and Botha as they put on 46 for the third wicket. Botha finally came good with 42 following a promising 27 against Netherlands and a duck against West Indies.

Both played patiently at first, picking off the odd loose delivery, before opening up later. A change of ends finally worked for Majid Haq, who had Botha stumped.

Kevin O'Brien and Alex Cusack moved the score along steadily, but it was the reliable Trent Johnston who boosted Ireland later, with a 57-run stand that brought Ireland near the 200-mark before he and O'Brien fell in the same Haq over.