Scotland was reeling at 152-7 in the 34th over, chasing 287 to win, but Leask struck 91 from 61 balls to clinch a win to start the side’s campaign.
All-rounder Michael Leask’s dramatic four on the final ball secured a thrilling one-wicket victory for Scotland over Ireland in their Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier Group B match at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.
Ireland, thanks to Curtis Campher’s outstanding 120 and George Dockrell’s fine 69, managed to post a total of 286/8 after struggling at 70/5, largely due to Brandon McMullen’s 5/34.
In response, Scotland faced adversity at 152/7. However, Michael Leask played a heroic innings, scoring an unbeaten 91 off 61 balls, featuring nine fours and four sixes, to secure a sensational win.
Leask also forged a crucial 82-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Mark Watt (47) before adding 50 runs with Safyaan Sharif (6). This victory marked Scotland’s 13th win out of their last 14 ODIs while chasing.
Scotland’s chase began with Matthew Cross’s early dismissal in the second over, but Christopher McBride contributed with a solid 56 off 60 balls to maintain a respectable scoring rate. In the 11th over, Adair dismissed Brandon McMullen, and later, Campher trapped McBride lbw in the 20th over. George Munsey (15) fell to Ben White shortly after.
Josh Little’s impressive second spell claimed the wickets of Scotland’s captain Richie Berrington and Tomas Mackintosh in the 26th and 28th over, respectively. Chris Greaves was dismissed by Dockrell in the 34th over.
However, the Leask-Watt partnership posed a significant challenge for Ireland, offering Scotland hope. This resilient duo added quick runs, giving Scotland a chance to turn the tide.
The partnership of 82 runs off 67 balls finally broke in the 46th over when Dockrell stumped Watt (47). Leask, undeterred, hit two sixes and two fours off Josh Little’s over, securing 22 runs in the 47th over.
In the final over, Leask hit a crucial four, but Ireland made a comeback by taking a wicket and conceding only two runs in the next four balls. Leask was back on strike, needing two runs off the final delivery, and his inside edge found the boundary, granting Scotland an unlikely victory.
In Ireland’s innings, they faced an early setback as opener Paul Stirling and captain Andrew Balbirnie fell to Brandon McMullen’s consecutive deliveries in the first over. The struggle continued as Harry Tector was dismissed in the fifth over, followed by Lorcan edging to first slip off Watt.
Campher and Andy McBrine then had to adopt a cautious approach to rebuild the innings, but the slow run rate added pressure, leading to McBrine’s departure in the 19th over.
Dockrell and Campher stabilized the Irish innings, adding 136 runs off 25 overs. Dockrell was dismissed by McMullen in the 44th over, but Campher continued to score runs with support from Gareth Delany (19 off 14 balls). Campher’s century, his maiden in ODIs, was not enough to prevent Ireland from suffering their second consecutive defeat.
Brief Score: Scotland 289 for 9 (Leask 91*, McBride 56, Adair 3-57) beat Ireland 286 for 8 (Campher 120, Dockrell 69, McMullen 5-34) by one wicket.
Man of the Match: Michael Leask
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