The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Scotland way off the mark
Cricket: Bradburn’ s men fall huge 203 runs short in defeat by Ireland
Grant Bradburn admitted Scotland’s batsmen failed to rise to the challenge of humbling Test rookies Ireland.
Despite being set a tough target of 372, Bradburn had backed his men to post a first win of their Intercontinental Cup campaign.
However, they fell a huge 203 runs short and the coach said: “We simply couldn’t put the runs on the board. While runscoring from both sides was light in the match, we felt 372 was a gettable total on a good surface today.
“On the plus side our bowling and fielding was high-class throughout the match. The priority of this tour has always been the final two Kenyan games in the World Cricket League and we now look forward to preparing for game one on Wednesday.”
The Scots went into the four-day match seeking a first win and bidding to make a point against their oldest cricketing foes in the first clash between the sides since the Irish were awarded Test status.
However, Kyle Coetzer’s men failed even to take the match into the final day as their rivals completed an easy 203-run win. Chasing an improbable 382 for victory, Scotland were soon in bother as openers Coetzer and George Munsey fell cheaply.
There was a little more resistance from the middle order than in the first innings when they slumped to 141 all out. Calum Mac- Leod made a 72-ball 33 before misreading a delivery from Peter Chase and losing his off stump. Michael Leask matched MacLeod’s score from just 28 balls with four boundaries and a maximum.
Mark Watt went on to top-score with 43 before being last man out having stroked five boundaries and a 6. However, four wickets from Chase and three from Tim Murtagh saw the Scots dismissed for a disappointing 178.
Earlier Stuart Whittingham claimed his first international five-wicket haul but Simi Singh’s 59 and 40 from George Dockrell helped Ireland post 271 in their second innings to take the match away from the Scots.
Scotland must rally for two World Cricket League fixtures with Kenya on Wednesday and Friday.
“Our bowling and fielding was high-class”