Scotland win last ball thriller

In what might prove to be one of the decisive matches of the tournament, Scotland held their nerve to defeat arch-rivals Ireland by three wickets in their opening game of the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground in Nairobi on Tuesday.

With these two sides and Kenya being touted as the top three teams in the tournament, this match was always going to be an important one in terms of scoring vital points and ultimately possibly earning a spot in the final on February 7.

And it almost seemed fitting that it should come down to the final delivery to decide which of these sides would be leaving the ground with maximum points.

Ireland won the toss and decided to bat first in overcast conditions, and a century from opener Jeremy Bray guided the side to a total of 280 for seven.

It certainly seemed that this would be sufficient to hold the Scots at bay, especially when, despite a solid 52 from opener Majid Haq, they found themselves at 158 for six in the 34th over.

But Neil McCallum, Colin Smith and Craig Wright had other ideas.

Once he had the chance, McCallum more than made up for dropping Bray, who went on to score 116, when he was on 12, by producing an impressive display of batting, eventually being dismissed for 100 in the 47th over when much of the work had been done.

Wright then joined Smith in the chase and the duo found themselves facing a target of 15 off the final over.

With Wright scoring a single, then Smith a six and a single, that was reduced to seven needed off the last three balls. Wright then smashed a six over long-on to level the scores.

With the Irish fielders crowded round, Kevin O'Brien then bowled a dot ball and it was all down to the final delivery which Wright hit for four to give the fist-pumping Scots the win.

Earlier in the day, Bray and William Porterfield put on 24 before Scotland wicketkeeper Smith caught Porterfield behind for 11 off the bowling of Paul Hoffman.

That brought Middlesex left-hander Eoin Morgan to the crease and he and Bray did well to give the Irish a solid platform.

Morgan eventually fell to Scotland captain Wright, caught behind for 41.

Niall and Kevin O'Brien and Andre Botha didn't make too much of an impact on the scoreboard and the Irish found themselves at 155 for five but a quickfire 22 off 24 balls from Kyle McCallan steadied matters before he was bowled by Hoffman in the 43rd over.

This brought in captain Trent Johnston who blasted the ball to every part of the Gymkhana ground.

He and Bray took the Scottish bowling apart in the dying overs before Bray tried one too many big shots and found his stumps rearranged by Hoffman who finished with figures of three for 44 off his 10 overs.

Johnston amassed 45 off just 19 balls, hitting one four and four sixes, including one off the final delivery of the innings.

But even this proved to be just short of what was needed.

Ireland's next match is against Bermuda at the Jaffery Sports Club on Wednesday while the Scots play Canada at Ruaraka Cricket Club.