James McCollum was the star of the show for Ireland Under 19s as they beat Scotland by 19 runs at Ayr today, despite a late rear guard action from the hosts.
Final Scorecard
The Warringstown opener’s brilliant knock of 80 came off 114 balls and include 7 boundaries and a maximum, as Ireland posted 206-8 off their 50 overs.
Lorcan Tucker was next highest scorer for the Boys in Green with 28, while the wickets were spread out amongst the Scotland bowlers with Hamza Tahir (2-25), Thomas Sole (2-39), Mark Watt (2-47) and Andrew Umeed (2-52) all picking up two each.
The Ireland opening bowling pair of Anders and Gamble got their defence off to a flyer, with the home side reduced to 2-2 in the third over; and Scotland’s woes were further compacted when the spin duo of Chopra and Allen conspired to reduced them to 46-5 in the 14th over.
Ireland looked to be on course for an early victory, but the Scotland lower order remained defiant however, with number six Will Edwards leading the recovery. When he was joined by at the crease by number 11 Simon Whait in the 40th over, Scotland needed 65 for victory and the pair edged their way towards it.
With 19 needed off the final two overs, Gamble made the vital breakthrough for Ireland – Edwards the man out for a well-made 58 off 79 balls.
At Ayr: Final Scorecard
Ireland U19 206-8 (50 overs, K McCollum 80, L Tucker 28, R Jones 19, H Tahir 2-25, T Sole 2-39)
beat
Scotland U19 187-10 (48.2 overs, W Edwards 58, M Azeem 25, R Gamble 2-23, R Jones 2-27, R Chopra 2-43)
by 19 runs.
The sides meet again on Wednesday at the same venue at 11am, before playing a T20 on Thursday morning at the same time – we’ll have live ball-by-ball scoring on www.cricketireland.ie.
No
Connaught
