A superb spell of bowling by Craig Young has put Ireland in the driving seat after Scotland were bowled out for 172 in the 41st over in the first of three ODI’s this week against our Celtic neighbours.

The big Bready man took 5 for 46 on his ODI debut and ripped the heart out of the visitor’s middle order when he returned for his second spell with Scotland on 51 for 1. He took three wickets for just two runs in the space of 14 balls twice hitting the stumps in the process. His figures are the eighth best in the history of ODI’s for a debutant and will have confirmed his place on the plane although few doubted that he would not be selected.

Ireland won the toss this morning in Malahide and put Scotland in to bat on a warm sunny morning although the start was delayed by fifteen minutes because of a heavy dew on the ground. Both countries have qualified for next year’s World Cup in Australasia and will use this series to finalise their squads for the tournament.

Max Sorensen also chipped in with two wickets removing opening batsman Matt Cross for 9 and clean bowling the last man Ian Wardlow for a duck. In between Andy McBrine also picked up a couple of wickets including danger man Richie Berrington who he caught and bowled for 2.

Only Michael Leask with a run a ball fifty including 7 fours and the only six of the innings enabled the Scots to reach any sort of defendable target before he became Young’s fourth victim caught by wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter.
Because they bowled Scotland out so early Ireland had to bat for half an hour before lunch and in that time they lost John

Anderson who fell LBW to Davey for 9.

At lunch Ireland are 28 for 1 wicket requiring another 145 runs to win.