Scotland sets-up mouth-watering final against Ireland

Johnston: "To go into the final with five from five, especially the way we won today means we are cook-a-hoop and full of confidence" The Netherlands go head to head with Afghanistan in third-fourth position play-off while Canada meets Kenya in fifth-sixth position play-off Saturday's final to be streamed live on ESPN STAR Sports website http://www.espnstar.com/iccliveand tournament website http://www.icc-cricket.com/events_and_awards/overview.php Rights-free audio interviews of Fraser Watts, Gordon Drummond and Nawroz Mangal available for download at http://www.icc-cricket.com/media_interactive_zone/audio_interview.php Photographs from Ireland v the Netherlands and Afghanistan v Scotland matches available for free downloading through ICC FTP site; images from Canada v Kenya match available through Getty Images

Left-arm spinner Ross Lyons took 3-21, fast bowler Gordon Goudie bagged 2-24 and wrist spinner Moneeb Iqbal claimed 2-35 at VOC in Rotterdam as Afghanistan, after electing to bat first, was skittled out for 141 in 47.1 overs on a good batting surface after being 54-2 at one stage.

Opener Fraser Watts then top-scored with a fighting 46 off 98 balls in Scotland's run-chase to dash Afghanistan's slim hopes after it had reduced the European side to 66-3, then 112-5 and finally 139-8, to win by two wickets with 37 balls to spare.

Waiting for them in Saturday's final is Ireland, which produced a champion's performance to return from the brink to defeat the Netherlands on Friday.

At VRA in Amstelveen Irish spinners Paul Stirling and George Dockrell recorded career-best figures to overshadow a dream debut by Netherlands fast bowler Bernard Loots (3-16) and bowl their side to a stunning 39-run victory.

The Netherlands, chasing 178 for victory, lost its last six wickets for six runs to be bowled out for 138 in 38.5 overs in a match which had no bearing on the final standing.

Off-spinner Stirling, who had earlier opened the innings and scored a dogged 33 in Ireland's 177 in 48.2 overs, recorded figures of 6.5-0-11-4, while left-arm spinner Dockrell returned figures of 10-0-35-4 as the Dutch side's captain Peter Borren's rush of blood, bowled by Dockrell for 47 with the score of 132-4, turned out to be the turning point in the match.

Stirling, for his all-round performance, was declared man of the match.

Earlier, Ireland's decision to bat first appeared to backfire as it plunged to 57-5 before a rearguard action led by John Mooney's maiden ODI half-century (54 off 71 balls with four fours and a six) lifted it 177 in 48.2 overs.

Saturday's final between Ireland and Scotland will be the ninth time the two traditional rivals will meet at the ODI level. Ireland enjoys a 6-2 head-to-head advantage, including a five-wicket victory in this tournament earlier this week at VCC in Voorburg.

Also on Saturday, the Netherlands will take on Afghanistan in the third-fourth position play-off at VOC in Voorburg in which it will not only try to retain its third position but will also attempt to avenge for a six-wicket defeat it suffered against the Asian side at VCC in Voorburg.

Scotland's Watts, who was declared man of the match, looking ahead at Saturday's final against Ireland, said: "It will be very tough as Ireland, as we know, is a very good side. We have played them already once and I thought we played really well in that game. It was sort of a lottery (in that game) as the wicket was a bit up and down.

"We have full respect for Ireland but we're in form and are now a confident side. We have belief in ourselves and I think it will be a very evenly-contested match. Hopefully if keen our nerve, we can go one better this time."

Watts agreed that Ireland will come hard at Scotland on Saturday morning. "We just need to carry on with what we're doing. Ireland will come very hard at us and will try to make life difficult for us. We just need to keep our nerve and do our jobs individually. And if we manage to do our jobs, I'm sure we can win the final tomorrow."

Ireland captain Trent Johnston, who was rested for today's match, said: "To go into the final with five from five, especially the way we won today, taking the last six wickets for six runs, means we are cook-a-hoop and full of confidence.

"What's just as important is that we'll be playing our third match on this pitch so we know what to expect and we have an edge over Scotland by virtue of winning our group match against them, albeit helped by the toss of a coin on a sporting pitch."

Johnston admitted tomorrow's final will be a tough match. "It'll be tough, it's always hard against Scotland, but we know that if we bring our A game then we can win the trophy, which would be a great achievement

"Scotland has got some handy cricketers. They've got (Richie) Berrington and (Neil) McCallum with the bat, Fraser Watts has hit some form, they've got a couple of good spinners and Matthew Parker bowled very well against us. On top of that, if conditions are similar to today, then Gordon Goudie will swing the ball and Gordon Drummond is a handy cricketer too, all-round. He'll be tough to get away if he bowls line and length.

"We won't be taking Scotland lightly, we'll be determined to prove Ireland is the number-one Associate team," he said.

"Before the tournament I don't think we were given much of a chance, missing half our team through county commitments and injuries and I would have made Afghanistan favourites as they've had their full-strength side here.

"But we've brought in the young guys and they have been a real boost for us experienced players, it shows we have the strength in depth to fall back on. In the situation like today, to come back and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, taking six for six from 132-4 gives us huge confidence," Johnston concluded.

31-year-old Bernard Loots, who replaced Maurits Jonkman in the Netherlands side only last evening, reflecting on his debut, said: "I heard on Tuesday that I may be playing and the clearance came through yesterday so it's been exciting and also happened quite quickly.

"I bowled decently although it was very disappointing to lose as that would have crowned the day for me. I'm realistic about my role in the side - I know I'm there more as a container than a striker but I only went for two runs an over today and I'll settle for that and the three wickets were a great bonus.

"My first wicket (from his second ball) maybe popped a little and I managed to hold on to the catch in my follow-through. That settled the nerves down but I'm not a spring chicken and I knew what I had to do, it was a case of trying to stay calm, hit my areas and do what was required."

Loots said he was keen to play in next year's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. "The World Cup is definitely an ambition but it's a case of one step at a time. What I've got is an opportunity and all I can do now is continue to perform.

"If the World Cup comes then it's an added bonus but there's much work for us all to do before then."

In a dress rehearsal for Saturday's fifth-sixth position play-off match, Canada defeated Kenya by six wickets to earn its first victory of the tournament. Captain Ashish Bagai hit an unbeaten 61 from 78 balls with nine fours and added 83 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket partnership with Zubin Surkari (23 not out) as the North American reached the 154-run victory target with 14.1 overs to spare.

Scores in brief:

At VRA, Amstelveen, Ireland beat the Netherlands by 49 runs
Ireland 177 all out, 48.2 overs (John Mooney 54, Paul Stirling 33, Nigel Jones 25 not out, Andrew White 23; Bernard Loots 3-16, Mark Jonkman 3-28, Peter Borren 2-32)
The Netherlands 138 all out, 38.5 overs (Peter Borren 47, Bas Zuiderent 28; Paul Stirling 4-11, George Dockrell 4-35)
Man of the match: Paul Stirling (Ireland)

Points: Ireland 2 The Netherlands 0

At VOC, Rotterdam, Scotland beat Afghanistan by two wickets
Afghanistan 141 all out, 47.1 overs (Nawroz Mangal 38 not out, Mohammad Shahzad 34, Asghar Salamkhail 24; Ross Lyons 3-21, Gordon Goudie 2-24, Moneeb Iqbal 2-35)
Scotland 142-8, 43.5 overs (Neil McCallum 46; Shahpoor Zadran 2-19, Hamid Hassan 2-22, Nawroz Mangal 2-22)
Man of the match: Fraser Watts (Scotland)

Points: Scotland 2 Afghanistan 0

At Excelsior Cricket Club, Schiedam, Canada beat Kenya by six wickets

Kenya 153 all out, 45.2 overs (Maurice Ouma 38, Collins Obuya 23, Dominic Wesonga 22, James Kamande 21; Harvir Baidwan 3-24, Rizwan Cheema 2-29, Parth Desai 2-33)

Canada 154-4, 35.5 overs (Ashish Bagai 61 not out, Zubin Surkari 23 not out, Geoff Barnett 21; Thomas Odoyo 2-14)
Man of the match: Harvir Baidwan (Canada)
Points: Canada 2 Kenya 0

Points table after round matches

Saturday's fixtures:

Final: Ireland v Scotland, VRA, Amstelveen (live streaming at www.espnstar.com/iccliveand http://www.icc-cricket.com/events_and_awards/wcl/index.php

Third-fourth position play-off: The Netherlands v Afghanistan, VOC, Rotterdam

Fifth-sixth position play-off: Canada v Kenya, Excelsior Cricket Club, Schiedam

Play starts 1100 local time (0900 GMT)
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