Ireland remain worlds apart as Johnston points to progress

CRICKET WORLD LEAGUE  IRELAND reaffirmed their standing as the best of the rest with a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Scotland in the World Cricket League Division One final in Amsterdam on Saturday, a triumph that skipper Trent Johnston believes will have far deeper resonances for the game in this country.

The Railway Union all-rounder led an inexperienced side, missing half-a-dozen frontline players through county commitments and injury, in a perfect campaign of six wins out of six as they retained the title won in South Africa last year.

“We set our sights at the start of the tournament on making the final, winning the final and going through undefeated. And to do all that with a pretty inexperienced squad is the most pleasing thing for me,” said Johnston, who was delighted with how the younger players performed throughout their stay in the Netherlands.

“I think they realise what it is to be part of an Irish squad. They can go away from here and become better cricketers and that’s all we’re asking. I think the biggest thing is that the strength in Irish cricket is outstanding,” he added.

On Saturday, it was two of the senior pros that brought Ireland home in style as Andrew White and Kevin O’Brien shared in a 160-run stand for the fourth wicket after a flurry of wickets has left them on 51 for three chasing 233 on a belter of a wicket at the VRA Grounds in Amstelveen.

The partnership was only ended by a fantastic one-handed catch by Scotland’s Richie Berrington at point to dismiss White for 79 but John Mooney joined O’Brien to ease Ireland over the line with 31 balls to spare.

The winning score came from the bat of O’Brien, who in selfless fashion took a single when a boundary would have given him a second ODI century in his 35th game at the level.

O’Brien had earlier made the vital breakthrough with the ball after Scotland got off to a dream start having been put in to bat by Johnston.

Scotland’s openers blasted their way to 141 without loss before wicketkeeper Rory McCann dived full length to execute a great catch to dismiss Preston Mommsen for 80.

It prompted a collapse that would see Scotland lose seven wickets for 28 runs and they were eventually bowled out for 232, a good 50 runs short of a decent total on the wicket.

Next up for Ireland are a Bangladesh side fresh from their first victory over England. The first of back-to-back one-day internationals takes place at Stormont on Thursday.

With Ireland’s big guns returning it offers Simmons’s side to make further gains on an already profitable summer.