Last Ball win for Scotland, Big blow for Ireland Men

Big blow for Ireland Men as Scotland wins last-ball squeaker

A gutsy maiden ODI century by Curts Campher wasn’t enough as Michael Leask pull off a last-ball win, one-wicket loss to Scotland at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier today.

(Cricket news) Looking at the odds of winning with ease with 60 balls left in the run-chase, Ireland’s bowlers couldn’t limit the batting of the lower-order pair of Michael Leask who scored 91* and Mark Watt scored 47, managed to put in 82 runs for the 8^th wicket. While Watt fell, Leask shepherded through the tailenders and saw Scotland through to a one-wicket, last-ball win.

Lately, in the day, Ireland’s top order failed to fire and it was all on Curtis Campher and George Dockrell partnership to save the Irish innings and post a competitive score. Their 136-run stand came from 150 balls and saved their side from a perilous position of 70-5 in the 19^th over.

Campher started vigilantly as he entered the ground with his side in a catastrophic situation of 33-4. He built a steady partnership of 37 with Andy McBrine before Dockrell partnered with him at the crease. Dockrell initiated his inning more aggressively, however, Campher was busy, stroking the ball and running hard – routinely turning ones into twos, and putting pressure on the fielders.

After Campher and Dockrell both brought up their half-centuries they began to maximise the run rate. Campher began to consecutively find the boundary – and struck four maximums over the boundary – as he accelerated through the gears.

His pull shot for six, followed by consecutive boundaries off Safyaan Sharif in the 43^rd over signaled his intent to finish with a flourish. His first 50 runs took 68 balls, but his second 50 only took 31 balls, bringing up his first ODI century with a boundary behind square.

The loss of Dockrell for 69 did not see the run rate abate – Campher and Gareth Delany combined for a quickfire 50-run partnership in just over four overs. Campher finally fell for 120 from the penultimate ball of the innings, Josh Little powered the last ball for four down the ground, and Ireland went into the break with a highly competitive 286-8.

Ireland performed well with the ball from the start of the innings, Adair removing Matthew Cross (4) in the second over. Adair soon had a couple of wickets before Campher, never far from the action in this match, made two incisive and well-thought interventions – first he trapped Chris McBride (56) in front then took a deflected catch at short third man. Four wickets fell for 32 runs, reducing Scotland to 122-6 in the 28^th over.

When Watt strode to the crease Scotland was 152-7, needing 135 runs in 16 overs – in the end, the match became thrilling as it came straight away to the last ball with a couple of runs required, ended up edging Leask’s bat for a boundary past wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker’s outstretched left hand.

Ireland now has three days break until the team face-off Sri Lanka on Sunday. While Ireland still maintains a chance of qualification, they will require favourable results elsewhere to achieve their goal.