The jinx goes on. Ireland had every chance to end their five-year barren spell against Scotland yesterday, but their hosts scraped home by nine runs at Greenock on the first day of the Triple Crown tournament.

Another disciplined performance in the field restricted Scotland to 160 for 9, but on a surface that "lost its top" during the day. Ireland could not muster the necessary resources and were dismissed for 151 in the final overs.

A poor pitch at Glenpark nevertheless produced a gripping game with the ball dominant from the moment Mike Smith was bowled by Ryan Eagleson in the sixth over.

Skipper George Salmond quickly followed when he clipped Gordon Cooke to mid wicket, leaving opener Bruce Patterson to hold Scotland together with a composed 79 off 137 balls.

While there was encouragement for all types of bowling, Ireland's decision to play two spinners was vindicated as Matt Dwyer took three for 19 and Kyle McCallon conceded a miserly nine runs from his first nine overs. When Cooke took a return catch to dismiss Patterson and had Asim Butt lbw first ball, the injured opener, Bryn Lockie, reappeared to add an important 13 runs for the last wicket. He was crucially dropped on 148 by 19year-old wicketkeeper, Jonathan Bushe.