A stunning 91-run batting performance from Michael Leask helped Scotland to a final-ball victory over Ireland in their opening group match of the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe.
The Saltires looked to have let their opponents off the hook when they failed to follow up on a strong start with the ball to allow Ireland to post a total of 286/8.
That looked too rich for Scotland’s taste when Chris Greaves departed to leave them toiling on 152/7, still 137 runs shy of their target.
That brought Mark Watt to the crease alongside Leask and the pair put on an 82-run partnership to haul Doug Watson’s side back into contention.
When the spinner fell for 47 – just three short of a maiden one-day half-century – Safyaan Sharif joined Leask in the middle and the Aberdonian simply continued to club big boundaries to draw Scotland ever closer, going 6-6-4-4 in one devastating over of power and placement.
Leask’s barrage of boundaries left Scotland needing eight off the final over, with the tension ratcheting up another notch when Sharif was caught, leaving his side still needing three runs off the final three balls.
Leask and Chris Sole ran a brave bye on the penultimate delivery, paving the way for the all-rounder to make the final two runs off the last ball to hand Scotland a famous one-wicket win.
It was just the first of four group games Scotland will play in the coming week but what a stunning start ahead of Friday’s next fixture against UAE.
“It’s a massive special moment for me,” admitted an exhausted and emotional Leask afterwards. “This badge means so much to me and I’ve finally been able to repay the team. We’ve had a few tough games against Ireland so to hit the winning runs just makes it even more special.
“We’ve got a team that bats really deep. I’ve got belief in my own ability so it was a case of, if I can stay there as long as I can, then we would have a chance. The guys coming in are great ball strikers and Watty and Saffy did a great job in steadying things and letting me find my feet.
“Watty and I have had a lot of good partnerships over the years so when he walked out I said, ‘why don’t we do it one more time?’ And he played a blinder and took a lot of pressure off me.
“This is how we’re going to play our cricket and hopefully we can go all the way.”
The Saltires had started as spectacularly as they finished after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, with Brandon McMullen removing Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie in the first over to leave their opponents flummoxed.
When all-rounder McMullen then took the wicket of Harry Tector and Watt had Lorcan Tucker caught at slip, Ireland looked up against it at just 33/4.
Scotland, though, failed to capitalise on that start, with missed catches and wayward bowling – they gifted 22 extras – allowing their Celtic cousins to wriggle off the hook.
George Dockrell made the most of his lifeline after being dropped on four and went on to make 69. Dockrell and Curtis Campher quickly steadied the Ireland ship with a 136-run partnership, with the South African-born Campher going on to rack up an impressive century before being finally bowled by Sole for 120.
McMullen came back on to take the wickets of Dockrell and Gareth Delany on his way to claiming 5 for 34 off his seven overs. Ireland reached the end of their innings on 286/8, a total that hadn’t looked likely given the nature of their early collapse and again when they were 70/5.
That put the pressure on Scotland to score freely in their reply and Chris McBride made 56 before being trapped lbw by Campher.
The middle order failed to fire, with McMullen (10), George Munsey (15), Richie Berrington (10) and Tomas Mackintosh (18) all unable to build on promising starts to their innings.
With Ireland having finished their batting overs with a flourish, the Scotland run rate was creeping ever higher in their attempts to chase it down.
But the tail wagged defiantly, with Greaves, Watt and especially Leask seeing them through to a huge victory.
“What a game of cricket and we’re obviously delighted to get over the line,” said Berrington. “We had the belief all the way through. Losing a few wickets in the middle made it tougher but what an exceptional knock from Leasky to see us home.
“It’s always a big game when Scotland takes on Ireland but the most important thing was for us to turn up and play our best cricket. I’m delighted to start things off with a win.”
