ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

IRELAND v SCOTLAND For the first two-and-a-half days this was a closely fought match on a green pitch under cloudy skies, favouring pace and swing bowling which most of the batsmen seemed ill-equipped to counter. Late on the second afternoon the sun came out and Scotland benefitted from the more benign conditions, allowing them to gain sufficient advantage and lay the foundation for a relatively easy victory on the last day even though the rain and cloud returned. Ireland were without Kyle McCallan who was getting married and, for Scotland, Colin Smith was unable to get leave from his police duties, but otherwise both sides were close to full strength. Asked to bat first, neither of Ireland’s openers succeeded in getting bat on ball for the first three overs, so much did the ball swing. Once the Scottish bowlers adjusted their line and length, Ireland were quickly in trouble and by the 23rd over had lost six wickets for 76 runs. Peter Gillespie and Peter Mooney survived until lunch (114/6). Gillespie fell in the first over after the break, driving a ball from off spinner Gregor Maiden into his pads and up to short-leg, but his 44 with seven fours showed that runs could be made, albeit with care. Mooney and Naseer Shaukat continued in the same vein and then accelerated, Shaukat being particularly severe on Dewald Nel’s bowling, taking 12 off one over. This was the signal for Asim Butt to be called back into the attack. He trapped Mooney leg-before to end the 69-run partnership and had Stephen Ogilby caught behind. Ryan Watson bowled Shaukat to bring the innings to a close at 3.30 pm after a total of only 59.4 overs. In reply, Scotland found batting equally difficult and when play stopped at 7.00 pm had lost six wickets for 133 runs. Shaukat made the ball lift and swing, Andre Botha bowled a tight line and length and even spinner Greg Thompson enjoyed the conditions, a sharply turning leg break bowling Colin Wright round his legs. Ireland were hardly affected by Trent Johnston’s ankle injury which reduced him to bowling off a short run at half pace. The second day began cool and overcast and it took Shaukat and Botha only 13.1 overs to end Scotland’s innings, the last four wickets adding only 24 runs, giving Ireland a first-innings lead of 26. Shaukat returned five wickets for the second time in consecutive innings in first-class cricket, following his performance against The Netherlands at Deventer. Asim Butt replied for Scotland with a superb display of seam bowling, taking the first three wickets, and after Wright had Gillespie caught at the wicket, Ireland were struggling at 57 for four. Overall, Ireland were trying to score too quickly, Jason Molins operating at a strike rate of 86.1 which, given the conditions, was suicidal. Andrew White correctly adopted a more cautious approach and was well supported by Eoin Morgan. Together they added 32 runs in 55 minutes of which Morgan made seven at a strike rate of 16.6. After his dismissal, Johnston and White put on 70 in nine overs before White miscued a hook shot to mid wicket. The last five wickets then fell for 19 runs in only eight overs. Tea was taken before Scotland embarked on the quest of making 205 runs. With heavy rain forecast for the last day, they decided on a positive approach and opened with Asim Butt, who was regularly employed as an opener or “pinch hitter” by Scotland in limited-overs cricket. The approach was not successful and in an evening of hot sunshine, the openers were out with the score at 28 and the Irish were clear favourites. However, these proved to be the last wickets obtained by Ireland in the match. David Lockhart and Fraser Watts had added 90 by the close, leaving Scotland only a further 87 runs to make. The third day began as forecast, windy and wet and for a long time it looked as though the match would be abandoned as a draw, which would have enabled Ireland to win the European Group. At 3.30 pm the rain ceased and, after a long wait, the umpires decided that play could restart at 5.15 pm and continue until 7.30. With further rain threatening Scotland batted aggressively whereas Ireland bowled poorly and, instead of attacking, set defensive fields. Watts reached his century in 127 balls with a six over long on, Lockhart made his half-century and a further six by Watts over mid wicket was the shot that brought victory in only the sixteenth over of the day. The pair’s unbeaten partnership of 178 runs was a marked contrast to the difficulties all the batsmen had experienced earlier in the match. Scotland deserved their victory but were perhaps somewhat fortunate to have won the toss, enabling them to choose which side batted first. 32 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2004