Rain brings poised match to a halt

With the game evenly balanced no play was possible on day three of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match between Ireland and Scotland at Stormont due to rain.

Play will resume on Sunday morning, weather permitting, with the Irish needing 136 runs to win on first innings. Niall O Brien (83*) and Andre Botha (53*) are the not out batsmen having already put on 120 for the fifth wicket.

Batting first Scotland made 315 all out with number eight batsman John Blain top scoring with 93. The best of the Ireland bowling came from Kevin O Brien (4-38) with Greg Thompson and Trent Johnston picking up three scalps apiece.

It was a frustrating day for players and spectators alike with the match between these two keen rivals very delicately poised.

The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC's premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members' cricket schedule.

Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.

Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada earlier this year in the 2006-07 event.

The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 at a venue yet to be decided.