CRICKET: An impressive century from Fraser Watts ensured victory for Scotland on day three of the Inter-Continental Cup match at Castle Avenue yesterday, ending Ireland's hopes of qualification for the semi-finals in the UAE in November.
With just 87 needed for victory and with eight wickets in hand, the only thing that could save Ireland was the weather. And for a long period, the rain that swept in from the south threatened to do just that. But it stopped mid-afternoon and play finally got under way at 5.15 p.m. with a minimum of 33 overs for the Scots to knock off the runs.
They only needed 14.3 of them, Watts picking up where he left off the night before, scoring with great fluency and ending up unbeaten on 118.
But the damage to Ireland had been done the day before. Indeed, Saturday was probably Ireland's worst day's cricket of the year. It had started reasonably well as they removed the four remaining Scottish first innings wickets for just 34 runs to give them a half-way lead of 26.
Then, with the ball still moving around on a green-topped pitch, Ireland's opening batsmen struggled against the new ball. Jeremy Bray was out, caught behind for six, and Andre Botha followed him back to the pavilion just two balls later without scoring. Skipper Jason Molins brought the attack to the Scots, hitting some fine shots. But, as in the first innings, he never looked completely in control and he fell for 31, yorked by veteran seam bowler Asim Butt.
After that, Peter Gillespie and Eoin Morgan did not last long but as the conditions for batting improved White and Trent Johnston put on 70 for the sixth wicket but then White mis-hit a long-hop from Dewald Nel, lobbing up a catch for Watts at deep backward square.
This turned out to be a pivotal moment as Ireland's tail failed utterly the second time around. The last five wickets fell for 19 runs - the last four for just six - as the home team crumbled to 178 all out. It was a poor effort.
With Scotland needing 205 runs to win and with batting conditions considerably easier in the Saturday evening sunshine, it was never going to be easy to defend that total. And despite a little hiccup at the start, losing pinch-hitter Butt and Bruce Patterson with just 28 on the board, the Scots spent the rest of the day edging inexorably towards that target.
Ireland could have been more aggressive in the field. Another couple of close-in fielders could have put more pressure on the batsmen and a little variation from leg-spinner prospect Greg Thompson might have forced them into a mistake.
The Scots certainly got the best of the varying conditions over the three days but it would be wrong to say that Ireland were merely unlucky.
Ireland (first innings) 193 all out (N Shoukat 48, P Gillespie 44, P Mooney 32, J Molins 31; A Butt 4-25, C Wright 3-49)
Scotland (first innings) 167 all out (F Watts 31; N Shoukat 5-60, T Johnston 2-19)
Ireland (second innings)
J Molins b Butt 31
J Bray c Smith b Butt 6
A Botha c Wright b Butt 0
A White c Watts b Nel 67
P Gillespie c Smith b Wright 1
T Johnston lbw Butt 47
E Morgan c Smith b Wright 7
P Mooney b Hoffmann 5
N Shoukat c Smith b Butt 0
S Ogilby b Hoffmann 0
G Thompson not out 1
Extras (12lb, 1w) 13
... ---
Total (all out, 51.4 overs) 178
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-48, 4-57, 5-89, 6-159, 7-172, 8-173, 9-174
Bowling: Hoffmann 14-5-40-2, Butt 13.4-3-47-5, Wright 13-4-28-2, Watson 4-0-21-0, Nel 6-0-30-1.
Scotland (second innings)
B Patterson c White b Johnston 9
A Butt c Ogilby b Botha 18
D Lockhart not out 53
F Watts not out 118
Extras (3w, 4lb) 8
... ---
Total (for 2, 53.3 overs) 206
Did not bat: R Watson, C Wright, C English, G Maiden, S Smith, J Nel, P Hoffmann.
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-28.
Botha 12-4-25-1, Shoukat 11-3-43-0, Johnston 8-2-34-1, Mooney 3-0-13-0, Thompson 10.3-3-36-0, White 9-0-50-0.
Scotland won by 8 wkts.
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