Leask scripts incredible comeback as Scotland win last-ball thriller

After having collapsed to 152 for 7 in a chase of 287, Scotland fought back and pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win against Ireland at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Wednesday. Michael Leask was the hero with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 91 off just 61 balls which included the winning runs off the final ball of the match.

The final over began with Scotland needing 8 runs, while having two wickets in hand. Leask set them on their way with a boundary off the first ball, aided by a misfield from Harry Tector. However, Ireland came back into it as Mark Adair dismissed Safyaan Sharif off the third ball. He then bowled a dot, and gave away just a single, leaving Leask with two to get off one. What followed was a stroke of luck that went in favour of Scotland as a thick inside edge whistled past the stumps, leading to big celebrations in their camp, and dejected faces in Ireland’s having lost two matches out of two with their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

The tide started turning for Scotland when Leask got together with Mark Watt in the middle. The duo added 82 for the eighth wicket off just 67 balls. When George Dockrell – who earlier completed 100 ODI wickets – broke that partnership by getting Watt stumped off a wide, Scotland needed 54 off 29 balls. It was still a very stiff challenge, but one that Leask took head-on. He exploded in the 47th over as Josh Little went for 22 runs. He went on to script one of the great comebacks for Scotland as they won their opening match of the campaign.

Earlier, Ireland were put into bat and needed a big comeback themselves having been reduced to 70 for 5. Right-arm pacer Brandon McMullen ran through them in the opening exchanges, getting rid of both Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirinie for golden ducks, and Harry Tector for just 6. It took a brilliant hundred from Curtis Campher to lead Ireland’s recovery, while getting good support from Dockrell in a sixth-wicket stand that was worth 136. McMullen came back to complete a five-for but Ireland still managed a respectable 286.

That total looked very good when Ireland’s bowlers combined to take down a large chunk of Scotland’s lineup. But they were taken down eventually by Leask.

Brief Scores:

Ireland 286/8 in 50 overs (Andy McBrine 32, Curtis  Campher 120, George Dockrell 69; Brandon McMullen 5-34) lost to Scotland 289/9 in 50 overs (Michael Leask 91*, Christopher McBride 56 Mark Watt 47;Joshua Little 2-73, Mark Adair 3-57, George Dockrell 2-34) by one wicket

(Cricbuzz)