Curtis Campher and George Dockrell’s unbeaten 119-run stand for the fifth wicket helped Ireland successfully chase 177 to register a six-wicket win over Scotland in their Group B match of the first round in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 at the Bellerive Oval.
Opener Michael Jones smashed a beautiful 86 off only 55 balls to take Scotland to a massive 176/5, before their bowlers reduced Ireland to 61/4 in 9.3 overs, with victory looking improbable.
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However, Campher (72 not out off 37 balls) and Dockrell (39 not out off 27 balls) had other ideas and came together to stun Scotland with a victory out of nowhere, to keep Ireland in the reckoning for a Super 12 spot.
During the chase, Paul Stirling and skipper Andy Balbirnie hit boundaries in the first three overs but were unable to build on, falling to pacers Safyaan Sharif and Brad Wheal in the Power-Play.
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Spinners Mark Watt and Chris Greaves dismissed Lorcan Tucker (20) and Harry Tector (14) at a time when they looked comfortable at the crease.
When the drinks break was taken, Ireland’s Campher and Dockrell came in with 116 runs still required in 63 balls. Dockrell hit a boundary each off Wheal and Greaves, before Campher joined in by slog-sweeping Watt for six in an 18-run 13th.
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Campher’s first T20I fifty came at a strike-rate of 225, taking Ireland to their highest-ever successful run-chase in T20 World Cups with one over remaining.
Earlier, Scotland had a good time with the bat, after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Jones hit six fours and four sixes in his 55-ball 86, at a strike-rate of 156.36.
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After his opening partner George Munsey was out in the second over, Jones was cautious before displaying a wide array of shots, hitting a majority of his boundaries through the leg-side, including a six that landed on the roof of the stadium.
Jones was involved in two useful partnerships – 59 runs for the second wicket with Matthew Cross (28) and 77 runs for the third wicket with captain Richie Berrington (37). He was finally out in the 19th over, but Scotland still managed to get 54 runs off the last five overs to finish with a strong total.
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Ireland were somewhat sloppy and sluggish on the field as Gareth Delany dropped Jones at deep backward square leg in the 15th over. Curtis Campher, Ireland’s best bowler, bowled only two overs, while Delany (0/28 in 3 overs) and Barry McCarthy (0/59 in 4 overs) leaked 87 runs between them.
Brief Scores
Scotland 176/5 in 20 overs (Michael Jones 86, Richie Berrington 37; Curtis Campher 2/9, Mark Adair 1/23)
Ireland 180/4 in 19 overs (Curtis Campher 72 not out, George Dockrell 39 not out; Michael Leask 1/16, Brad Wheal 1/25)
