• Scotland v Ireland, Tri-series, 2nd ODI, Edinburgh

Berrington blasts Scotland to victory

Paul Stirling's excellent hundred wasn't enough as Scotland chased down a huge total © Associated Press

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Scotland v Ireland at Edinburgh

Ireland had a rude awakening at the hands of Scotland at The Grange, as their oldest rivals showed them that they can no longer rest on their laurels as No.1 associate nation.

Despite scoring their third highest ODI score, Ireland slipped to a crushing five wicket defeat with nine balls to spare. It ended a run of seven limited-over wins in succession by the Irish, and gave their neighbours the Celtic nations bragging rights for now.

On an excellent batting pitch, Scotland made nonsense of the form book and history books as they chased 321 to win. Ireland's bowlers never found their length and were put to the sword by some breath-taking batting.

Richie Berrington's 50 off 20 balls was the final straw, but the opening stand of 129 between Kyle Coetzer (89) and Fraser Watts (54) set them on their way as Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston misfired badly.

It was quite a shock to most of the vibrant home crowd, who saw Paul Stirling's third century in four ODIs spur Ireland to a commanding 320 for 8 at the Grange. Stirling's thunderous innings of 113 was backed up by a typically measured 71 by Alex Cusack and a breezy fifty by Andrew Poynter.

Stirling was perhaps stirred into belligerent style - his hundred came up in 71 balls - by a communication from his county. Middlesex told him to report to the 2nd XI at the conclusion of this tournament, as his services would not be required this week by the first team.

Stirling was given every assistance by the home bowlers, who squandered the toss by bowling far too short and wide of the stumps. Scotland's raw opening bowler, Safyaan Sharif, saw a six and a four disappear over cover in his first over, and William Porterfield was just as harsh on the seamer

The Irish opening stand sailed past fifty in the ninth over, before a bowling change did for the captain. William Porterfield tried to hit Josh Davey over the top and instead skied to Coetzer at mid-off. Cusack joined Stirling, and settled into his favoured role as second fiddle.

Stirling batsman raced to 50 off 45 balls as the 100 was raised in 18.2 overs. Scottish skipper Gordon Drummond made frequent changes as bowler after bowler failed to quell Stirling and Cusack.

By the 22nd over he was on to his seventh bowler, Kyle Coetzer, but he was whipped out of the attack when his third over was plundered by Stirling. The second ball sailed into the crowd at extra cover, and three balls later it disappeared into the distance, still rising as it flew over the wall surrounding the picturesque Grange ground.

He raised his century off 83 balls in the 28th over, and had time for a sixth six before he fell to Majid Haq. In the absence of Niall O'Brien, Andrew Poynter took a rare chance to show his class andpulled and swept powerfully while Cusack continued to accumulate.

Poynter's fifty came up in 33 balls, behind only Stirling and Kevin O'Brien's fastest ever Irish fifties, made at the recent World Cup. He perished at the hands of Drummond's eighth option bowler, South African-born Preston Mommsen. The innocuous-looking off-spinner kept his lines tight and picked up 3 for 26 off five tidy overs. His second scalp was Kevin O'Brien, who was surprised by the bounce of the first ball he received, which he proceeded to steer into the diving, outstretched hand of Majid Haq at third man.

The Irish lower middle order is well-practiced in finishing an innings, and Gary Wilson and Trent Johnston ensured the total exceeded 320.

But some stirring batsmanship made that total look innocuous. Trent Johnston laboured hard, but his lack of match-bowling told. In the last ten weeks he has bowled just 25 overs, all for Ireland, as he has been forbidden by Cricket Ireland from turning his arm over for this club Railway Union .

George Dockrelll ended the opening stand when Watts missed a sweep, but the Somerset youngster never settled and bowled his ten overs in five spells. Coetzer continued his purple patch of three consecutive ODI fifities, equalling his career best 89 set two weeks ago against Netherlands. He fell to Rankin who got a pearler to take the top of off stump.

Berrington took up the baton however and a blistering powerplay of 65 runs ensured victory was comfortably secured. He hit six sixes, most of them over the tennis courts into Arboretum Avenue.

Irreland coach Phil SImmons said he was "disappointed rather than angry" at his charges. "Its the sort of kick they need sometimes," he said. "They need to learn not to underestimate anybody.

"They did it last week against Namibia and got away with it. But today we lost intensity and its hard to get momentum back when that happens."

When Ireland beat England at Bangalore in March, they celebrated in the team hotel by singing "Are You Scotland in Disguise?" as they encountered the English players.

As the Scottish players celebrated in their dressing room last night, one wag was tempted to lead them in a chorus of "Are You England in Disguise?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.