Scotland came out on top in the derby with Ireland as they sealed a dramatic eight-run victory to round off a perfect T20 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Both countries had already qualified for next year’s finals but local rivalry and the chance to top the table meant they were keen to impress in front of a sell-out Grange crowd.
Half-centuries from Richie Berrington and Brandon McMullen helped Scotland to an imposing total of 213-6 but it was Brad Currie’s performance with the ball that proved decisive, the fast bowler taking 5-13 and two catches – as well as dropping another on the final ball of the day - in a terrific all-round effort.
For a while it looked like Ireland’s Mark Adair might emerge as the match winner as he thrashed 72 runs in a thrilling run chase before Scotland roared back to clinch another famous victory in interim head coach Doug Watson’s final game in charge.
“It’s been a great tournament all round,” said Berrington. “Our goal was to qualify for another World Cup and we’ve managed to do that. It was great to have a game like this and to finish off with a win over Ireland.”
The visitors sent Scotland into bat and it wasn’t long before both openers were back in the pavilion, George Munsey caught – just – by Harry Tector and Oli Hairs snared more comfortably by Curtis Campher to leave the hosts wobbling on 26-2.
That put the emphasis on McMullen and Berrington to elevate the run rate and both duly took up the mantle as the boundaries began to flow.
There was a let-off for Berrington when he was dropped by George Dockrell as the ball dropped out of the sky from a great height and the captain made the most of that reprieve by moving to his 50.
McMullen looked in the mood to play his shots, too, and soon joined Berrington on the half-century mark as Scotland looked to post an imposing total.
That commitment to attacking cricket was not risk-free, however, and Adair held on to a big catch to bring Berrington’s innings- and a century partnership - abruptly to an end.
McMullen lashed another pair of maximums down the ground before Ben White had the last laugh, drawing the all-rounder into a miscued shot that Campher did well to clutch.
Michael Leask and Matt Cross kept up the attack as Scotland hurried past the 200 mark on their way to a big total.
Ireland got off to the worst possible start, with Andrew Balbirnie caught behind and Lorcan Tucker dismissed in Currie’s opening over.
It got better for the pace man as he enticed Tector into a chance that Berrington gratefully snaffled before Mark Watt took a terrific catch to get rid of Stirling as Ireland wobbled on 44-4.
Campher was the fifth wicket to tumble, Currie this time the catcher, before Munsey had Neil Rock snared, both off Leask’s bowling. Every over seemed to include either a boundary or a wicket and a spectacular diving catch from Leask ended Dockrell’s innings just as he was getting into his groove.
With seven wickets down, Adair, appropriately, took on the fire-fighting role, clubbing Leask for three maximums in one over as Ireland moved closer to their target.
A dropped catch by Chris Greaves gave them an unexpected lifeline before Currie held on to another chance to remove Barry McCarthy and leave Ireland eight down.
The visitors were getting ever closer – needing 20 off the final two overs – when man-of-the-match Currie came back to finally remove Adair for 72 and effectively seal a precious Scottish victory.
