Ireland v Scotland: Hosts clinch ODI series success

Scotland's Richie Berrington ducks from a high ball in the second ODI

Ireland beat Scotland by three wickets at Malahide to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The hosts put Scotland into bat and were struggling on 11-3 before a superb unbeaten 101 from Richie Berrington helped them to 221 all out.

Max Sorensen was the pick of the Irish bowlers with 4-40, while Craig Young chipped in with three wickets.

Ireland made steady progress and Kevin O'Brien hit 67 as they reached 225-7 with more than 34 balls to spare.

Scotland were aiming to get back into the series after a seven-wicket defeat in Monday's opener at the Dublin venue.

Sorensen and Young shared the new ball to devastating effect and the Saltires were reduced to 48-5 after little more than 11 overs.

Berrington was proving much more stubborn and slowly but surely he began to ease the visitors back into the contest.

Ireland captain Kevin O'Brien smashes the ball away on his way to 69 from 65 balls

His efforts allowed Scotland to close on 221 with Sorensen and Young (3-39) the leading bowlers, while John Mooney and O'Brien chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Ireland's reply was hardly convincing to begin with, as Andrew Balbirnie (16) and John Anderson (12) were both undone by Josh Davey after both had managed to get some sort of start.

O'Brien and Andrew Poynter were soon on top of things and the experienced duo added 68 before Poynter fell to Berrington for 21.

Irish skipper O'Brien was caught behind off Alasdair Evans and things began to get a little less comfortable.

Stuart Poynter's needless run-out breathed a little life into the Scottish cause and the hosts were really starting to labour when Stuart Thompson's solid 39 ended with him trapped leg before by Michael Leask.

Andrew White was next to go, bringing Mooney and Sorensen together with 37 still needed.

This pair were up to the task, Mooney with an unbeaten 27 and Sorensen 14 as Ireland finally edged it.

Evans (2-34) and Davey (2-44) fared best of the Scots attack, but the visitors now go into Friday's final game with just pride to play for.