Cricket - World Cup qualifiers: Ireland will have to chase down 233 to earn victory in their opening World Cup qualifier in South Africa after letting Scotland literally slip through their fingers in Benoni this morning.
Having won the toss, Ireland’s opening bowlers left the Scottish top-order in tatters as Boyd Rankin and Peter Connell took two wickets apiece to reduce them to 24 for four.
That brought Neil McCallum to the wicket and the 31-year-old was to dig his side out of a hole in spectacular fashion, scoring his second One Day International century, both coming against Ireland.
He should never have made it to three figures as he was dropped twice, on 41 and 67, before going on to bring up his ton off 129 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six.
He smashed two more sixes before he finished, unbeaten on 121, and shared in a blistering eighth-wicket stand of 56 from just 31 balls with Jan Stander (22 not out) as Scotland closed on 232 for seven.
Rankin was the pick of the Irish attack, finishing with figures of two for 27 from his ten overs, while Connell suffered in the late onslaught as his two wickets came at a cost of 51 runs.
Scores
Scotland 232-7(50 ovs) (N McCallum 121no, K Coetzer 29, J Stander 22no; B Rankin 2-27, P Connell 2-51)
