Ireland's team performance scuppers Scotland

Ireland 136 for 7 (White 19, Wilson 19, Coetzer 2-14) beat Scotland 99 (Coetzer 43, Johnston 3-20) by 37 runs
Scorecard

Ireland completed a 37-run win to ensure their progress to the Super Fours stage after Scotland collapsed on either side of a threatening partnership between Kyle Coetzer and Gordon Drummond. A team performance with both bat and ball was behind Ireland's victory, as no batsman made more than 19 and the wickets were shared around by the bowlers.

Despite their defeats to USA and Afghanistan, Scotland still had an outside chance of sneaking through to the next stage of the tournament coming in to this game. Had they won today, they would have drawn level on two points with Ireland and USA. With Ireland scoring 136 for 7, Scotland had to chase down the runs in 14.5 overs or less in order to overtake Ireland's net run rate.

Their innings lay in tatters within the first two overs, however, as Peter Connell and Trent Johnston ripped through the top order to reduce Scotland to 6 for 4. After Connell got rid of Fraser Watts and Gavin Hamilton in consecutive balls, Andre Botha held onto two chances at a well-positioned short third man off Johnston as Richie Berrington and Neil McCallum slashed wildly at deliveries outside off stump. Two overs later Jan Stander mistimed an attempted heave over midwicket and Scotland had collapsed to 12 for 5.

Then came the fightback, as Coetzer and Drummond saw off the opening bowlers and began to accumulate runs steadily. With a win in under 15 overs firmly out of the question after the top order crumbled, the pair had only pride to play for, and their partnership was just beginning to look ominous when Coetzer popped a low full toss to a backtracking William Porterfield at cover to depart for 43.

Simon Smith's run out in the 17th over broke Scotland's resistance. George Dockrell dismissed Ross Lyons and Drummond in his second over, and Kevin O'Brien wrapped up the match with a well-directed yorker to disturb Dewald Nel's stumps.

Apart from Alex Cusack, who was trapped lbw by Majid Haq for two, every one of Ireland's top nine made a start with the bat to contribute to what turned out to be a match-winning total. Johnston, O'Brien and John Mooney all chipped in with 10, while Andrew White, Gary Wilson, Niall O'Brien, Porterfield and Botha all made it into the teens. Haq and Coetzer were Scotland's most successful bowlers, with two wickets apiece.

Ireland had to win this game to be sure of a spot in the Super Fours, and will take some confidence in the way they rallied as a team in this game as they progress to the next round.