Cricket: Ireland successfully defended their European Championship Division One title with a convincing seven wicket win - under the Duckworth-Lewis method - against Scotland at Castle Avenue this evening.
Phil Simmons' side were set a target of 152 from 35 overs after Ireland skipper William Porterfield won the toss and elected to put Scotland in to bat first at the Clontarf venue.
Porterfield, who is also Ireland's opening batsman, had a surprisingly off day as he was bowled out for one by John Blain off just 12 balls. The captain needn't have worried for he had plenty of back-up to get the job done.
After a rain delay, play resumed at 6pm and umpire Billy Bowden set Ireland a new revised target of 128 from 27 overs.
Gary Wilson was in particularly good form as the Surrey player recorded his first One Day International half century (51) before being caught and bowled by Blain.
Wilson had Andre Botha for company between the stumps and he wasted little time in running up 47 not out from 43 balls to put Ireland into a commanding position.
As Ireland raced towards their target the winning runs came from Kevin O'Brien, who fittingly closed out the contest with a six to record a comfortable win in the end for the defending champions, who replied with 129 for 3 from 23.5 overs.
This was Ireland's third championship win after the seventh staging of the event.
Although Simmons admitted before the match to having one eye on Saturday's World Twenty20 Qualifer - also against Scotland - on Saturday at Stormont, this will come as a welcome win for Ireland because they slumped to a record one day defeat against New Zealand before losing to Scotland in Aberdeen earlier this month.
Scotland made a fast start to their innings and put 60 on the board without loss after nine overs. Scottish skipper Ryan Watson played a leading role with the bat to record his half century.
However, Ireland fought their way back courtesy of three quick wickets for 10 runs in a seven over spell from veteran Kyle McCallan. The Warringstown player also earned his 194th Ireland cap.
Further wickets came courtesy of Alex Cusack, Andre Bothe and Peter Connell, who all took two wickets apiece before Scotland closed on 152 for 9.
IRELAND: Porterfield, Strydom, Wilson, O'Brien, Cusack, Botha, O'Brien, White, McCallan, Connell, Fourie
SCOTLAND: Watson, Sheikh, McCallum, Watts, Drummond, Hamilton, Berrington, Smith, Blain, Nel, Haq
Umpire: Billy Bowden