Hamilton ton helps sink Ireland

Cricket : Gavin Hamilton hit his first one-day international century as Scotland set up a Tri-Series decider against New Zealand…

Cricket: Gavin Hamilton hit his first one-day international century as Scotland set up a Tri-Series decider against New Zealand with a five-wicket win over Ireland in Aberdeen.

The former Yorkshire and England player's 115 from 152 balls provided the foundation for the Scots to overhaul their rivals' 210 for eight with 15 balls to spare.

Hamilton, who was out with just three needed for victory, hit 13 fours and put on 122 for the third wicket with local hero Colin Smith.

It was that partnership which turned the match firmly in the hosts' favour following the loss of Ryan Watson for a duck and Qasim Sheikh (23).

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Aberdeenshire's Smith played his part with a gritty 59, including six boundaries, from 82 balls as the Scots eased to their target.

They could even afford a mini-collapse with three wickets falling for just 10 runs before the job was completed.

Earlier Dewald Nel put the Scots on top with a brilliant opening spell.

The former Worcestershire seamer, who went on to claim record Scottish ODI figures of four for 25, made the breakthrough when he found the edge of Reinhardt Strydom's bat in the eighth over.

It was not all one-way traffic, though, and Nel's figures suffered when Gary Wilson clipped one of his five boundaries through the covers.

However, Ireland's plight intensified when 17-year-old Paul Stirling, having slogged one boundary off John Blain, played loosely at a wide one from Nel and was comfortably held by Richie Berrington at gully.

Nel claimed a third scalp when Andre Botha flashed outside off stump and Smith took a superb catch above his head to reduce the Irish to 45 for three.

They enjoyed a let-off when Wilson, having made 31, was dropped by Scots skipper Watson off the bowling of Gordon Goudie.

However, the miss proved relatively inexpensive as Goudie got his man - courtesy of a third Smith catch - in his next over.

Ireland finally found some substance to their innings in the form of a 65-run partnership between Andrew White and Ryan Haire.

Former Northants batsman White made a patient 34 with three boundaries while Haire, in only his second ODI, went on to top-score with 54, including seven boundaries and a six.

It needed something special to part the pair and it was provided by Hamilton, who took a stunning one-handed catch on the deep midwicket boundary to dismiss White off Blain's bowling.

Blain, returning to top-flight action after a five-week injury lay-off, also picked-up the wicket of Andrew Poynter en route to figures of two for 29 from his 10 overs.

Goudie returned to the attack to end Haire's 64-ball knock but a second half-century stand - this time between Kyle McCallan (39) and Thinus Fourie (19no) - saw Ireland recover from 153 for seven.