Ireland vs Scotland, World Cup Qualifier 2023, Highlights: Michael Leask Shines As Scotland Beat Ireland In Thriller

We are back for Scotland's reply as the umpires make their way out to the middle. The Ireland players are in a huddle at the boundary line before taking their respective positions on the field. Matthew Cross and Christopher McBride will open the inning for Scotland and will want to get a good partnership going here. Joshua Little has the new ball in his hand and is ready to begin proceedings. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Scotland will have their work cut out trying to chase this target on a pitch that will provide some assistance to the bowlers. That said, the Irish bowling contingent has not been at their best though and if the Scottish openers get off to a good start we will be in for a cracking run chase. Will Ireland get their first win? Or will Scotland begin their campaign with a victory? We will find out shortly when we return for the run chase.

George Dockrell says that Curtis Campher played an incredible knock as he came out to bat when they were in trouble and to play that inning after missing out in the last game shows immense quality. Mentions that they had a good partnership against Scotland last year and felt that if they got in, they could put a decent total on the board. Admits that he is still finding himself a bit but that is the nature of the game and he looked to get a few balls away toward the end. Adds that he is just happy to get runs on the board and contribute to the total. Claims that only half the work is done but runs on the board always helps and they need to bowl well. Reckons that they need to keep it at the stumps and be disciplined while performing well in the field.

Scotland, on the other hand, would be really disappointed that they have let the opposition score this many after having the start they had. The sluggishness in the field has proved costly to them. Brandon McMullen was brilliant early on in his first spell and took the wickets of Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie in the first over itself but ever since the Powerplay they lagged behind the Irish side who executed their plans to perfection. They held back Brandon McMullen through the middle overs when they needed a breakthrough and despite taking a five-wicket haul, he ended up bowling only 7 overs. Chris Sole, Christopher McBride, and Mark Watt chipped in with one wicket each but the Scottish players will feel that they have allowed this game to get away.

Ireland have bounced back tremendously well in this game after being held back by Scotland early on in the first Powerplay. After losing 4 wickets early on, Curtis Campher and George Dockrell put up a brilliant partnership of more than hundred runs and that helped the team to reach the target of 286 in their 50 overs. At one point it looked like Ireland would not be able to play out their full quota but Curtis Campher stood out with the bat in his hand as he scored a century on his comeback into the team after being benched for the first game as he accumulated 120 runs in 108 deliveries. He was well supported by George Dockrell who scored 69 runs and held up one end.

FOUR! Joshua Little ends the Ireland inning with a boundary! This is bowled back of a length and outside the off stump. Joshua Little slaps this just over the mid off fielder and the ball trickles over the ropes at long off for four runs. Ireland have reached a formidable total of 286.

OUT! BOWLED! Chris Sole has some relief as he sees the back of Curtis Campher who has played a match-saving inning here!

FOUR! When it is your day, everything goes your way! This is bowled full and outside off. Curtis Campher looks to hit through the line and gets and outside edge over short third man for four more runs.

FOUR! This has been smashed down the ground! Chris Sole bowls this full and outside off. Curtis Campher smacks this towards long on for four runs.

SIX! Curtis Campher continues accumulating the runs and he is showing what Ireland missed in the last game! This is short and angled into the batter. Curtis Campher keeps his ground and pulls this over deep square leg for six runs.

Chris Sole bowls this back of a length and follows the batter to the leg side. Curtis Campher walks down the wicket to make room and looks to slap this away. Gets an under edge through to the keeper.

Wide outside off and on a fuller length. Curtis Campher goes well across the stump to paddle this fine but is unable to put this one away. The ball rolls into the off side nd they scamper for a run.

Nails the yorker on an off-stump line. Mark Adair gets some bat on this and the inside edge goes into the leg side. They steal a single.

Continues to bowl full and outside the off stump. Curtis Campher eases this down to long off for a run.

Bowled full and outside the off pole. Mark Adair knocks this towards deep cover-point for a single.

FOUR! Mark Adair has absolutely thumped this away to the fence! This is a low full toss outside off. Mark Adair drills this towards deep cover for four runs.

WIDE! Well beyond the tram line outside off on a fuller length. Mark Adair swings his bat but the ball is far away. The umpire calls this wide.

Safyaan Sharif bowls this full and outside the off stump. Curtis Campher looks to go hard and gets an outside edge that bounces through to the keeper. Mark Adair calls his partner through for a single and the wicket-keeper misses the stumps.

Goes full and on an off-stump line. Mark Adair drills this down to long on and they run well to take a couple of runs.