WHAT ONE Scottish tabloid journalist has dubbed "the million pound game from hell" could prove a tidy little earner for Ireland's cricketers if they beat Scotland today in Kuala Lumpur.
A third place finish in the ICC Trophy not only offers Ireland a lucrative invitation to the 1999 World Cup finals but also a sizeable thank you bonus from the Irish Cricket Union, and the pleasure of taking a couple of big ones off a Dublin bookmaker.
As things have turned out in Malaysia, Paddy Powers offering the players' syndicate odds of 10 to 1 against Ireland qualifying for the World Cup amounted more to a sponsorship of the team than a serious bet. There will probably be more financial benefits in the offing too with part and full time contracts for certain players in the lead up to 1999 being discussed by the ICU. Losing, on the other hand, hardly bears thinking about. Whereas Irish fans would, of course, never mention the triumph - wouldn't think of it - the Scots would find a way of slipping it into every conversation for the next millennium.
In truth, neither side wanted this Celtic clash, but it has been on the cards since the teams avoided each other in the "quarter final" groups, and was confirmed yesterday when Scotland failed to make much of a fist in their resumed semi final against Bangladesh.
Iain Philip, who always seems to score runs against Ireland, ran into a bit of form with 37 but apart from a brief rally from captain George Salmond, and Greg Williamson's 39 not out, there was little other resistance as Scotland were dismissed in the 45th over, 72 runs shy of Bangladesh's 243 for 7.
Scotland now have to pick themselves up and report for duty again less than 24 hours later against a fresh and confident Ireland side who have had two days off.
Jim Love, the Scotland coach, admitted his team were a little weary and probably ready to go home. But he added: "They won't need too much motivating for one final effort with the prize of a World Cup place at stake, and we haven't lost to Ireland since 1993.
"There are good friends across the two sides and I'm pals with Mike Hendrick, their coach, so we all know how had it's going to be for the loser. But we're positive and there are no unknowns for us with Ireland as there were when we played Bangladesh."
Love, a Yorkshireman, then rather spoiled his rare attempt to be upbeat and optimistic by saying that he would have settled for fourth place at the start of the tournament.
Alan Lewis, passed fit to play and back in the side for Allan Rutherford, echoed the mood in the Irish camp by responding: "Fourth place is no good to us."
