MacLeod helps Scotland avoid Dublin whitewash

Scotland batsman Calum MacLeod was the driving force behind his side's eight-wicket win against Ireland in Dublin on Friday, scoring an unbeaten century to avoid a series whitewash.

Scotland batsman Calum MacLeod was the driving force behind his side's eight-wicket win against Ireland in Dublin on Friday, scoring an unbeaten century to avoid a series whitewash.

Ireland posted a score that would have been a winner in the first two games, with John Mooney's 96 driving them to 241 for nine. But MacLeod was undaunted, and he made 116 not out as Scotland won with 26 balls to spare.

The Scotland, already two nil down in the series, won the toss and chose to field. In the early stages they took regular wickets, not allowing the top order to get much past double figures, and Majid Haq firing.

The Irish were five down for 141 when Kevin O'Brien departed for 36, and Scotland looked well on top. But then Mooney arrived to give the knock momentum, and he made his near-ton off just 77 balls.

He struck two sixes and 12 fours, but didn't get much support at the other end. He was the final wicket to fall, to Safyaan Sharif, as Haq took a five-fer.

Scotland's chase got off to a poor start as they lost Matty Cross in the second over, but then MacLeod and Hamish Gardiner knuckled down and piled on the runs. They put on 179 runs together over 213 deliveries.

Gardiner departed for 86, in the 38th over, and this brought skipper PReston Mommsen out to join MacLeod, and they saw the side home with an unbeaten stand of 57. MacLeod's 116 was his second one-day ton.