Ireland secure series win in Dublin

Cricket365
September 11, 2014

Ireland secured a three-wicket win over Scotland in the second ODI in Dublin on Wednesday, thus winning the three-match series and on the brink of a whitewash.

Scotland scored 221 all out, thanks only to Richie Berrington's century after Max Sorensen ripped through the top order. Ireland then reached the score with 34 balls to spare, despite a late flurry of wickets.

After a delay for a wet outfield, which did not impact the length of the match, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl, and this was the correct decision. Sorensen was on the money right away, striking in the first over.

Matty Cross was removed by the paceman with the third ball of the match, and Craig Young then added to his impressive start to his career by bagging Callum McLeod soon afterwards.

Sorensen then sent Preston Momsen packing, thus leaving Scotland deep in the mire on 11 for three. Hamish Gardiner and Berrington then took the score to 40, before Sorensen got Gardiner caught behind for 13.

Berrington continued on his merry way, but watched as wickets continued to tumble. His only substantial support came from Josh Davey, who made 40 runs off 69 balls, before he too got added to Young's records.

Berrington was the last man standing, on 101 not out, having recorded his maiden ODI ton. He had used up 126 balls, and was the only reason for a defendable score, though it seemed unlikely even at the innings break.

Ireland's chase was relatively steady and most batsmen made a contribution of some kind, though the openers failed to get out of the teens. As it was, skipper Kevin O'Brien who did the bulk of the damage, scoring 67.

Once O'Brien was out, there was a flurry of three wickets, but the Irish had enough in the bank already to make the rest of the chase a breeze, with John Mooney on 27 not out at the end, and Sorensen on 14.