In the end it was Scotland who mantained their record of winning all but one of their one-day encounters with the Irish when Gordon Cooke was lbw to left-arm spinner Andy Tennant from the second ball of the last over.

In a game which ebbed and flowed, Scotland, electing to bat first, suffered an early blow when opener Bryn Lockie was forced to retire in the second over with a torn groin muscle and suffered further setbacks when Mike Smith and George Salmond went quickly and Drew Parsons also departed to leave them 48 for 3.

Bruce Patterson, one of Scotland's heroes against Worcestershire last week, dug in and repaired the damage with stoic defence mixed with powerful drives through the off side, constructing with the fleet-footed Ian Stanger, an innings-savings partnership of 67.

Stanger eventually aimed one ambitious shot too many to top edge Matt Dwyer to mid-wicket and the Scots were in trouble at 106 for 5 when James Brinkley became the 39-year-old spinner's second victim.

Patterson, however, battled on and was eventually seventh out for a splendid 79 which won him the Man of the Match Award as the Scots limped to a 50-over 160 for 9.

Ireland were rocked when Asim Butt quickly accounted for Neil Carson and Brinkley dismissed Ken McCallan and Eddie Joyce to have them on 19 for 3. But Stephen Smyth and Peter Gillespie restored the balance in a stand of 58 before Craig Wright took a remarkable catch at long-on to see the end of Smyth.

Gillespie soldiered on and, just when he seemed to have tipped the balance Ireland's way, he edged to the wicketkeeper. Suddenly Scotland were back in the game as Stanger struck with two wickets in as many overs.

Brinkley returned to remove Angus Dunlop and Stanger picked up his third wicket when Parsons safely held Jonathan Bush at cover. Then, with 10 needed from the last over, Cooke fatally missed a full toss to be leg before.