Chase reels in Saltires as Ireland win by 203 runs

Peter Chase took four wickets to finish off Scotland yesterday as Ireland signed off from the ICC Intercontinental Cup with a 203-run triumph.

Ireland look set to finish second in the table with Afghanistan in control of their final match against the United Arab Emirates but they can look forward to their first Test match against Pakistan next year with confidence from an emphatic win.

Ireland began the third day in Dubai 296 runs ahead on 186 for five in their second innings and George Dockrell played a major part in putting them further ahead by hitting five boundaries from 46 balls to finish on 40.

Simi Singh struck his first halfcentury for Ireland before being caught out for 57 off the bowling of Stuart Whittingham, who claimed four wickets on the day as well as catching out Dockrell as Ireland were bowled out for 271.

That set Scotland an unlikely target of 382 runs to win and victory slipped further out of their grasp early in their second innings with openers Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey both being caught out for six runs.

Mark Watt top-scored with 43 for the Scots but he could not take the game into a fourth day as Chase’s delivery saw him caught at second slip by Andy Balbirnie in the final half hour of action as Scotland’s innings ended on 178 all out.

Scotland will finish sixth in the eight-team table.