Ireland defend 205 to register first victory of tri-series
After losing their opening two fixtures against the Netherlands, Ireland got their tri-series campaign back on track with a comprehensive 46-run win over Scotland, who were playing their first game of the competition.
Batting first, Ireland marauded to 205/5 courtesy half-centuries from in-form opener Paul Stirling, highly rated No.4 Andrew Balbirnie, and captain Gary Wilson.
Stirling came into the tri-series in phenomenal form, having averaged over 70 in the One-Day Cup for English county Middlesex. Starts in his first two games against the Netherlands will have frustrated him, and today he cashed in for a 29-ball 51, 40 of his runs coming through boundaries as he got his side off to a flier.
Together with Balbirnie, he helped Ireland plunder 76 from the first seven overs, and though Stirling was caught on the boundary by Tom Sole off left-arm spinner Michael Leask, and Simi Singh was run out soon after, Balbirnie kicked on to ensure there was no loss in momentum.
Before today the right-hander had made just 84 runs in 10 T20I appearances. He almost doubled that in one innings, finishing on 74 off 40 balls, striking 11 fours and a six, while skipper Wilson ensured the innings ended with a flourish, smashing 58 from 38 balls from No.5.
For Scotland, many of the figures did not make for pretty reading. Alasdair Evans was the most expensive, although he at least took two wickets as he conceded 51 runs. Opening bowlers Mark Watt and Chris Sole each went wicketless and conceded a combined 74 runs in seven overs, while Leask also went at close to 10 an over.
The only Saltires bowler to retain a modicum of control was Stuart Wittingham, who returned 1/27 from four overs, superlative figures in the circumstances.
The chase looked a tough one, but initially Scotland looked likely to make a game of it as opening pair George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer added 65 for the first wicket in 6.5 overs. Slow left-armer George Dockrell accounted for both of them, removing Scotland’s captain LBW for 33 and having Munsey caught at deep square leg for 41 in consecutive overs.
Scotland continued to battle, and all of their top five made starts, but no one could make the big score needed to threaten Ireland’s total. They finished on 159/5, respectable, but still a comfortable loss. The two sides face off again on Sunday 17 June in the fourth game of the tri-series.