Ireland qualifies for fifth ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup after winning European Qualifier in Belfast

Ireland qualified for next year's ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia when it beat arch-rivals Scotland by six wickets to win the four-team round-robin European U/19 Qualifier in Belfast on Thursday.

Ben Ackland stroked an unbeaten 71 and opener Chris Dougherty contributed a valuable 37 as the home team achieved its victory for the loss of four wickets after the target was revised to 150 in 32 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method following bad weather.

The result means Ireland will participate in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup for the third time in a row after qualifying for the main event in 2004 and 2006 in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively. Ireland also appeared in the 1998 and 2000 events in South Africa and Sri Lanka respectively, but missed the 2002 tournament in New Zealand when Scotland qualified when, as now, Europe had only one place available in the competition.

Ireland joins the ICC's 10 Full Members, hosts Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (which recently qualified from the East-Asia Pacific Region) at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup to be played from 17 February to 2 March, 2008 in Malaysia. The Americas U/19 Qualifier, Asia U/19 Qualifier and Africa U/19 Qualifier will be played next month and the winners of those events will complete the 16-team line up.

Ireland captain Greg Thompson, who will play in his third ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup, said he was delighted with the effort of his team and hoped it will now continue its upward momentum.

"It is a fantastic achievement because we desperately wanted to qualify for the Kuala Lumpur event which we have done with flying colours," he said.

"The team is shaping well and we look to be heading in the right direction. We know it will be a tougher competition in Malaysia but the way we are performing and peaking, I am confident that we will be able to put up some strong performances."

Thompson said Irish cricket's future looked bright. "The seniors made the country proud in the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies which, of course, was a huge motivation for all of us, while at the junior level we have won all the European titles.

"Personally, I am happy to return to Asia for the third time but it has only been made possible due to a complete team effort in which everybody contributed," Thompson added.

The much-awaited clash between the two teams at Osborne Park was delayed by rain and when conditions improved in the afternoon, the match was reduced to a 34 overs-per-side contest. Scotland, put into bat, recovered from a top order collapse to reach a competitive 157 in its 34 overs.

All-rounder Calum MacLeod spearheaded Scotland's recovery and scored a fine 58 from 67 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Scott MacLennan chipped in with a vital 36. The two put on 62 runs for the fifth wicket after the visitors had slumped to 47-4.

For Ireland, Richard Keaveney, Graham McDonnell and Greg Thompson took three wickets each conceding 16, 35 and 38 runs respectively.

Ireland's target was revised to 150 in 32 overs because of another rain interruption but that did not disturb the home team's approach and confidence as it achieved the victory target with six wickets and 13 balls to spare.

MacLeod took two early wickets to reduce Ireland to 8-2 but Ackland and Dougherty thwarted Scotland's hopes by putting on 99 runs for the third wicket.

Ackland, batting at number three in the order, played a polished knock, facing 70 balls, and his innings was studded with eight fours. Dougherty, who scored a fine century in the previous game against Denmark, continued his fine form by scoring a watchful 77-ball effort with two boundaries.

In the third and fourth placed play-off match at Stormont, the Netherlands beat Denmark by nine wickets. Olivier de Geus and Graeme Davey took three wickets while conceding six and 15 runs respectively as Denmark was bowled out for 46 in 20 overs after rain reduced the match to 41 overs per side.

Alexei Kervezee then hit an unbeaten 22 off 15 balls as the Dutch achieved the target for the loss of one wicket in 26 balls.

Scores in brief:

At Osborne Park, Ireland beat Scotland by six wickets
Scotland: 157 in 34 overs (Calum MacLeod 58, Scott MacLennan 36, Richard Keaveney 3-16, Graham McDonnell 3-35, Greg Thompson 3-38)
Ireland: 151-4 in 29.5 overs (Ben Ackland 71 not out, Chris Dougherty 37, MacLeod 2-20)
Target revised to 150 in 32 overs, D/L method

At Stormont, the Netherlands beat Denmark by nine wickets
Denmark: 46 in 20 overs (Olivier de Geus 3-6, Graeme Davey 3-15)
Netherlands: 43-1 in 4.2 overs (Alexei Kervezee 22 not out)
Match revised to 41 over per side.

The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup is a vital part of the ICC Development Program and provides a vehicle for the best young cricketers in the world to parade their skills.

Many of the future stars of the game experience their first true international exposure at this tournament and players such as Brian Lara, Michael Atherton, Yuvraj Singh, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Cairns, Michael Clarke, Graeme Smith and Sanath Jayasuriya have used the event as a stepping stone to full international honours.

First staged in Australia in 1988, the tournament was initially organised on an occasional basis, but since the commencement of the ICC Development Program in 1997 it has become a biennial fixture.

The 2010 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup will be held in Kenya while the 2012 tournament will be staged in Canada and UAE will host the 2014 edition.