Ireland sets up ICC Intercontinental Cup final against Afghanistan

September 15th 2013 by Cricket Ireland |

Max Sorensen ended with 5 wickets in the 2nd innings © ICC/John Boomer

Ireland defeated Scotland by an innings and 44 runs on the fourth and final day of its ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Clontarf on Saturday to knock Scotland out of the tournament and thereby set up a final against defending champion Afghanistan.

It was Ireland’s second win over Scotland in six meetings in the history of this first-class tournament, which was introduced in 2004. It was also Ireland’s fifth win in seven matches in the current tournament and Scotland’s second loss after it was also defeated by Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in March 2013.

Scotland had entered the match requiring a maximum of 20 points to keep its slim chances of reaching the final alive. However, Scotland was eliminated from the tournament on Friday after Ireland took a 212 runs first innings lead, when the home side replied to the visitors’ 138 with 350.

The result means that defending champion Afghanistan, regardless of the outcome of its last match against Kenya in October, will appear in its second consecutive ICC Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland at the ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City from 10 to 14 December 2013.

Ireland, it may be mentioned here, had confirmed its berth in the competition final after the completion of the sixth round, in which it defeated Netherlands by 279 runs. 

Scores in brief

Scotland – 138 (Safyaan Sharif 41; Craig Young 4-53, Graeme McCarter 3-13, Kevin O’Brien 2-29) and 168 (Safyaan Sharif 60, Majid Haq 37; Max Sorensen 5-37, Graeme McCarter 2-17, Craig Young 2-57)

Ireland – 350 (Paul Stirling 65, John Anderson 56, Kevin O’Brien 45, Andrew Balbirnie 38, William Porterfield 30; Moneeb Iqbal 4-68, Majid Haq 4-69)

Result – Ireland won by an innings and 44 runs

Umpires – Johan Cloete and Richard Smith

Match referee – David Jukes

Forthcoming matches

22-25 Sep – UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
6-9 Oct – Afghanistan v Kenya, GCA 1, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
10-14 Dec – Final; Afghanistan v Ireland, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City

Intercontinental Cup points table (as on 14 September, after Ireland-Scotland match)

Teams Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts
Ireland* 7 5 0 0 2 0 116
Afghanistan* 6 4 0 0 2 0 84
Scotland 7 2 2 0 2 1 66
Namibia 6 3 2 0 1 0 57
Canada 7 1 4 0 1 1 43
Kenya 6 1 4 0 0 1 42
United Arab Emirates 6 1 1 0 4 0 40
Netherlands 7 0 4 0 2 1 36