Scotland’s cricketers completed their three match tour of Ireland with a thumping win in the third and final ODI at Malahide on Friday although it was to be a consolation victory only with the hosts already 2-0 up from earlier in the week.
FINAL SCORECARD
MATCH PHOTOS
The visitors won the toss and asked Kevin O’Brien’s side to take first use and it looked a good decision as Andrew Balbirnie (6), John Anderson (19) and Stuart Thompson (22) were all back in the pavilion by the time the scoreboard read 50.
A partnership of 45 from skipper O’Brien (36) and Andrew Poynter (15) certainly helped the Irish cause however it was the appearance of John Mooney that was to give the innings real impetus.
The North County man held the Irish innings together as he hit 12 fours and 2 sixes in his 77-ball 96, a knock that allowed his team to post a competitive 241 for 9 in 50 overs.
Majid Haq bowled really well to claim 5 for 54 for Scotland and he got good support from Safyaan Sharif (2-44) while there was one wicket apiece for Alisdair Evans and Josh Davey.
The Scots’ top order has struggled a touch this week in the face of some excellent bowling from the Ireland seamers and it looked to be business as usual when Craig Young removed Matty Cross in the second over of the reply.
The visitors refused to be intimidated however and instead Calum MacLeod and Hamish Gardiner took on the home bowlers. Both batsmen looked in excellent touch and once set, it seemed as if they might lead their side the whole way to the winning line.
The partnership was finally broken by Balbirnie but not before the batsmen had taken the Scots to within sight of victory- Gardiner hitting 10 fours in his 89- his share of a 179-run stand.
MacLeod deservedly passed his century with 15 fours in his composed 116 not out as the Scots were able to canter to an 8-wicket win. Skipper Preston Mommsen was unbeaten on 31 at the other end as Ireland were left with plenty to contemplate ahead of Antipodean tours.
At Malahide Final Scorecard
IRELAND 241/9 (50 overs, J Mooney 96, K O’Brien 36, S Thompson 22, Majid Haq 5-54, Safyaan Sharif 2-44)
SCOTLAND 243/2 (45.3 overs, C MacLeod 116*, H Gardner 89, P Mommsen 31*)
Scotland won by eight wickets
[2546] Ireland v Scotland – 3rd ODI – ireland-v-scotland-3rd-odi
[211] John Mooney – mooney-john
Yes
Connaught
