Ireland beat Scotland by six wickets in one-day tri-series

Balbirnie continued his good form after hitting a century in Ireland's win over the UAE on Saturday

Ireland beat Scotland by six wickets to extend their winning run in the triangular one-day series in Dubai.

Michael Jones hit 87 in Scotland's total of 219 as Boyd Rankin claimed 3-49.

Ireland skipper William Porterfield fell for a duck but Andrew Balbirnie's 67 and Niall O'Brien's 55 helped them to victory with 15.1 overs to spare.

Ireland, who beat the United Arab Emirates twice last week, face Scotland again on Thursday.

Scotland play the UAE on Sunday and 23 January.

Ireland and Scotland will compete in the World Cup qualifiers in March for the 2019 tournament.

Balbirnie hit 10 fours and a six as as he notched his 67 from 55 balls in his fifth one-day international half century.

The Dubliner was eventually stumped off the bowling of debutant Tom Sole - son of Scottish rugby great David - and Paul Stirling fell for 38 soon after.

Niall O'Brien and Ed Joyce took Ireland to the brink of victory with a fourth-wicket partnership of 63 in just 65 balls before the wicketkeeper was dismissed.

Pace bowler Rankin was pleased with the team performance as the Irish continued their winning start under new coach Graham Ford.

"We took early wickets to put them under pressure and our spinners Andy McBrine and George Dockrell did really well and contained them in the middle overs," added Rankin.

"We were pretty pleased at the half-way point to have kept them to 219 on what we reckoned was a 300-par pitch."