Chasing Ireland's 242 for four, the Scots began their innings by losing James Brinckley off the second ball but when Douglas Lockhart was joined by Mike Smith their intent was quickly made clear. The Aberdeenshire batsman was quickly into his stride, 52 coming in the first 10 overs.

Although the run-rate had subsided when the three Irish spinners were operating, Williamson and Stanger, coming together at 147 for five, needed only 13 overs to take the score to 231 for six with Williamson hitting four enormous sixes, two from one over bowled by Greig Molins.

Williamson's innings ended two short of a half-century from 37 balls when he was lbw to Peter Gillespie. Stanger stroked the winning boundary with 10 balls and four wickets in hand.

It was a batsman's day throughout on the best of the artificial pitches, one of even pace and bounce. The Irish total, built around a fine 93 from Stephen Smyth and a punishing unbeaten 70 from Jason Molins, might have been more had it not been for some accurate bowling from spinners Keith Sheridan and Nick Dyer in mid-innings.

Ireland lost Kyle McCallan in Brinckley's first over but Smyth, coming in at three, soon took charge in a partnership worth 102 for the second wicket. Smyth batted for 127 balls and hit eight boundaries in his 93 and the innings was given a final flourish by the aggressive Molins, whose 70 came from 60 balls and included 11 fours.

Scotland were always ahead of the required rate with 86 coming in the first 15 overs and George Salmond weighing in with 57. The only hiccup came when Matt Dwyer dismissed the Scottish captain and in his next over had Drew Parsons caught at mid-wicket.

Scotland's Bill Smith and former England Test bowler Neil Mallender will umpire today's final between Holland and Denmark.

Group A 3rd-place play-off (The Hague):

Scotland won by 4 wkts.

Ireland 242-4 (Smyth 93, J Molins 70*)

Scotland 245-6 (G Salmond 57, G Williamson 48; D Lockhart 38, I Stanger 37no).