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ICC Cricket WCQ 2023: Scotland triumphs against Ireland in a nail-biting thriller

After winning the toss, Scotland requested Ireland to bat first. The Scottish bowlers, however, fell short of expectations, and Ireland finally achieved a competitive score of 286 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allocated 50 overs. Curtis Campher batted brilliantly for Ireland, scoring 120 runs off just 108 deliveries. His knock was full of beautiful strokes and well-timed shots. George Dockrell also contributed significantly, scoring 69 runs off 93 balls. Their cooperation helped to keep Ireland’s innings stable.

Brandon McMullen was Scotland’s outstanding bowler, taking five wickets for 34 runs. His outstanding bowling performance caused problems for the Irish hitters and aided in limiting the opposition’s scoring pace.Scotland rallied back valiantly to complete the score with one wicket in hand and one delivery to spare, chasing a goal of 287 runs. Michael Leask batted brilliantly, scoring 91 runs off 61 deliveries. Christopher McBride chipped in with a superb 56-run knock off 60 balls. Despite the fact that Mark Adair took three scalps for Ireland, his efforts were in naught as Scotland kept their composure and won a terrific bout.

Michael Leask hit an unbeaten 91 as Scotland completed a spectacular comeback to overcome Ireland by one wicket off the last ball. Scotland appeared to be a long way from victory after Chris Greaves was removed with the penultimate ball of the 34th over, leaving the Saltires 152-7.
But then came Michael Leask, who, with a career-best 47 from Mark Watt, hit a brilliant 91 off 61 balls to get his team over the line.

Earlier, after winning the toss and batting first, Scotland got off to a flying start when Brandon McMullen dismissed Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbernie in the first over. McMullen then dismissed the lethal Harry Tector, before Mark Watt and Chris McBride struck to leave Ireland reeling at 70-5 in the 19th over. That brought Curtis Campher and George Dockrell together, and they added 136 for the sixth wicket, recalling their stand in Hobart last year.

McMullen’s golden arm would break that stand when he eliminated Dockrell for 69, but it did not stop Campher, who reached 120 before being removed by Chris Sole. Ireland scored 107 runs in the final ten overs to set Scotland 287 after rallying from 34-4. Scotland’s pursuit got off to the worst possible start when Mark Adair took out Matthew Cross for four, but Chris McBride and Brandon McMullen would offer steadiness, with the former often hitting the boundary.

McMullen was dismissed off Adair with the score on 56, but McBride would reach his maiden ODI half-century as he brought the total to 90 in partnership with George Munsey, who was playing his 50th ODI. McBride’s departure for 56, on the other hand, triggered a period in which wickets dropped at regular intervals, with Munsey (15), Richie Berrington (10), Tomas Mackintosh (18), and Chris Greaves (20) all reaching double digits but failing to exceed 20. Scotland were 152-7 when Mark Watt and Michael Leask arrived at the wicket and began rebuilding the innings.

As the boundaries began to flow, Leask was particularly powerful on the leg side, while Mark Watt opted to utilise his feet against the spinners on his way to a career-best 47. The two put on 82 for the eighth wicket, but it wasn’t until Watt was out on the first delivery of the 46th over that Leask gained command. In 27 balls, he combined 50 with Safyaan Sharif (6), including taking a Josh Little over for 22 with some amazing hitting. Scotland needed eight runs off the last over, but the game changed course when Sharif top-edged a short ball from Adair to Paul Stirling, leaving three runs required off the final three deliveries.

A dot ball to Chris Sole upped the ante before Leask scrambled through for a bye off the last delivery, leaving Scotland needing two off one. And he got enough bat on Adair’s ball to send it racing down to the fine leg boundary, sealing a thrilling triumph.

Ireland 286/8 in 50 overs (Curtis Campher 120, George Dockrell 69; Brandon McMullen 5/34, Christopher McBride 1/24)

Scotland 289/9 in 50 overs (Michael Leask 91 not out, Chris McBride 56; Mark Adair 3/57, George Dockrell 2/34). Scotland won by 1 wicket.

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