Scots hold nerve in dramatic finale to claim last-ball win over Ireland

Scotland last night secured a last-ball victory over Ireland to give themselves a huge boost going into Friday’s opening T20 World Cup qualifying clash against Singapore.

The Scots held their nerve at the Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi, to win by a single run, avenging defeat by the same margin to their old rivals in Malahide last month.

However, they made life hard for themselves after dominating for much of the match.

George Munsey’s brilliant 86 propelled them to an imposing 210 for eight before Ali Evans removed Kevin O’brien with the first ball of Ireland’s reply

Hamza Tahir then claimed three key wickets as the Scots continued to hold the initiative despite a hard-hitting 70 from Andy Balbirnie.

And, with the Irish needing 55 from the final four overs with just three wickets left, victory should have been a formality.

Instead, Mark Adair’s brilliant 45 from only 24 deliveries gave Kyle Coetzer’s men a real scare before Scotland finally prevailed in a dramatic finale.

Adair looked set to be his country’s hero and was on strike with just two runs needed from the last two balls of the match. But Safyaan Sharif produced a gem of a delivery to bowl Adair and new batsman David Delany was then unable to hit the single that would have tied the match.

Earlier Munsey got Scotland off to an electrifying start with some of the monster hits for which he has become renowned. The left-hander helped himself to 12 runs from the first over to set the tone for an onslaught that had the Irish bowlers reeling.

Munsey reached his halfcentury from only 21 deliveries while Coetzer played second fiddle with a modest 15 before falling to George Dockrell. Munsey looked set to reach three figures but, having made 86 with nine boundaries and five maximums, he miscued a Delany delivery and was caught by Harry Tector.

His 41-ball knock had put the Scots on course for a huge total at 119 for two after half of their overs. Oli Hairs took up Munsey’s mantle with a rapid 38 but wickets fell regularly in the closing overs, meaning Scotland had to settle for 210 for eight – only just enough.