A good morning with the ball for the hosts as Scotland were bowled out inside 35 overs for just 141. Runs again today for skipper James Stronach and Shlok Thaker with 27 from Sheryas Tekale, while for the Irish Travis Faulkner claimed three wickets with two each for Johan George, Sam Haslett and Gethin Kelleher. Ireland's openers, the CSNI pairing of James West and Seb Yeates took the score to 69 in the fifteen overs play before the scheduled lunch break. The partnership was broken at 77 with the first of three wickets for Kenny Keddie, and two for Sheryas Tekale in the ten overs after the break brought Scotland right back into the game, before Ethan Marshall and Sam Haslett added 44 for the sixth wicket. The game turned into another tight one with Ireland creeping along at barely a run an over to reach their target in the fortieth over, Haslett (15) bowled by Tekale with 2 runs required. So the 50 overs games are shared leaving 2 T20s on Thursday and 1 on Friday morning to complete the series.

Scotland pipped Ireland by 5 runs in the opening match of their Under 17 Celtic Cup series at Stormont. The visitors total of 237 was down primarily to two significant stands. Firstly, keeper Ollie Pillinger (46) added 74 for the first wicket with Simon Umeed, and then following a mini collapse where four wickets fell for 12 runs, skipper James Stronach and Keerat Singh (30) got the innings back on track by adding 81. Stronach thumped 7 fours and 2 sixes in an even time 55, while for Ireland Clontarf's Ethan Marshall took (4-20) and Instonians spinner Ben Walsh took 3 for 49. The chase was a nip and tuck affair with early runs for James Smallwoods (29), Sam Haslett, and Ethan Marshall. Scotland kept pegging away and wickets for Shreyas Tekele (3-42), Ken Keddie (2-32) and Alec McClennan (2-38) had them on top. Bruce Whaley (40) and Gethin Kelleher (37) fought back bravely but in the end the Scots prevailed in a tense finale that augurs well for the rest of the series.

Ireland Under 19's continued preparations for their upcoming matches against England and Bangladesh with a game against Lightning Bolts at Oak Hill. The Irish batting failed to fire though as they were bowled out for 155. Seb Dijkstra top-scored with 39, while there were 27 apiece from Rob O'Brien and skipper Olly Riley. The wickets were shared around with three for Jeremy Martins and Nasir Totakhil, while Seb D'Oliveria and Mark Tonge each claimed two. Martins led the chase with an unbeaten 44, while there were runs too for Suliman Safi (29), Macdara Cosgrave (25) and Jamie Forbes (24) in the six-wicket win.

Charlie Swart top-scored with 64 as the Emerging Knights levelled their mini-series against the Emerging Knights, chasing down 188 to win by five wickets at Belmont, Batting first, Ireland Under 19's struggled with Brian Dunphy top-scoring with 46, and 20s for Freddie Ogilby, Bruce Whaley and Seb Dijkstra. Kian Hilton - who seems to have reinvented himself as a bowler - took two wickets, as did Carson McCullough and Alex Armstrong on their home patch. Swart hit 8 fours and a six in his powerful knock, while there were runs too for Mo Aahil (37), Jordan Neill (31*), and Ryan Hunter (29*) in an impressive reply. Reuben Wilson took three wickets for the Irish teenagers, who are back in action next week against Leinster, before the huge tests of England and Bangladesh later in the summer.

Scotland gained a consolation win in the third and final game of the series as they won by 56 runs at Comber. Finlay Carter's 62 helped them to 254, with runs too for Rory Grant (34), James Woodhouse (24), and Ollie Jones (22). Tom Ford (3-39) was the pick of the Irish bowling unit. The chase was a tense one as Seb Dijkstra (36), Rob O'Brien (34), Dan Murray (29) and James West (24) all got starts but couldn't kick on. At 187 for 5 the game was evenly poised before the Irish collapsed, losing their last five wickets for 11 runs to be 198 all out. Manu Saraswat of Aberdeenshire was again the pick of the attack, taking three wickets to bring his tally to seven across the three matches, while James West was the series leading run scorer with 214.

A 124 run partnership for the seventh wicket between Finlay Carter and Ollie Jones carried the Scots to an impressive 268 in their 50 overs. Ethan Marshall with three wickets for the Irish who paid the price for dropped catches. Scotland would also rue their dropped catches as James West took full advantage of his good fortune to post a match winning unbeaten century. Ireland winning with more than four overs to spare. Ireland lead 2-0 in the three match series with the final game in Comber tomorrow starting at 10.15.

Ireland Under 19's took a 1-0 lead in their three-match series against their Scottish counterparts with a 78-run win at Wallace Park. Pete Johnston's side never looked back after an opening stand of 126 between James West and Freddie Ogilby (40). West top-scored with an even time 72 (9 fours), while Adam Leckey cleared the ropes twice in an entertaining 41. Manu Saraswat took four wickets to drag Scotland back into contention at 215 for 7, but an eighth wicket stand of 63 in 34 balls between Dan Murray (48*) and skipper Ollie Riley (37) saw a flurry of boundaries and a total of 280 for 8 was always going to be challenging. The Scottish batters all got starts but Rory Grant's 31 was their top score as the Murray brothers took a combined six wickets - four for Luke and two for Dan. CIYMS left-arm spinner Alex Armstrong (3-35) collected three wickets too in a fine all-round effort by the Irish. The teams meet again on Wednesday at Larne, with Stormont hosting the third and final match on Thursday.

A wet outfield means the game has been reduced to 45 overs. Zimbabwe collapsed from 180 for 5 to 203 all out, with Reuben Wilson taking the last three wickets completing a het-trick. Early wickets has Ireland in trouble but Adam Leckey going well in stand of 44 with Dijkstra, who has just been bowled by the wonderfully named Ambitious Mudoma. Quite a few changes to the Zimbabwe team as they shuffle their pack in the final match. Leckey joined by Ethan Marshall and another decent stand has Ireland on top with just 46 needed from last ten overs. A slight wobble means 26 needed from last five with four wickets left - Leckey still there, and his unbeaten 91 gets Ireland home in conjuction with skipper Ollie Riley.

Ireland lost the toss and are batting first. Both openers gone just after the powerplay, while Yeates dismissed as the visitors finding scoring tough. Rob O'Brien is joined by Adam Leckey with the pair quickly upping the tempo. Then Leckey and Seb Dijkstra combine in a 138 run partnership only ended when Dijkstra holes out in the 49th but Ireland have got themselves a decent total to defend. Thomas Ford with the breakthrough in his first over but Leeroy Chiwaula passes fifty and his partnership with Simbarashe Mudzengerere is worth 83 before Dijkstra strikes. James West removes the dangerous Chiwaula, but the hosts look on top with just 47 needed from 10 overs. A 4th wicket stand of 81 broken by a run out but too little too late, and the hosts clinch an ultimately comfortable 6-wickets win with 25 balls left, and take a 4-0 series lead.

Batting first Ireland lost openers James West and Freddie Ogilby for 0 inside the first 8 balls, and when Rob O'Brien followed it was 24/3. Adam Leckey and Seb Dijkstra rebuilt the innings adding 69 before Dijkstra fell quickly followed by Leckey and Ethan Marshall first ball - Ireland in disarray. Dan Murray and skipper Ollie Riley led the recovery with Murray’s 90 seeing the last three wickets more than double the score. A quick start to the chase the hosts rattling along at over 8 an over. Two wickets for Adam Leckey plus two for Seb Dijkstra and Febin Manoj just about kept Ireland in it before an 8th wicket stand of 49 all but clinched the win, and with it the series. Not much between these two teams but the whitewash is on with a 3-0 lead. Next game is on Thursday.

Ireland win the toss and put in the hosts, who make a decent start to reach 126 for 2 at the half-way stage. Dan Murray and Seb Dijkstra with the wickets. The score passes 150 with 20 overs to go and they head into the final ten overs with 200 on the board and looking set to post a challenging target. Wickets for Dan Murray, Alex Armstrong and Reuben Wilson see Ireland fight back well. Still, 260 will need them to bat well. Freddie Ogilby goes cheaply but James West and Adam Leckey rebuilt nicely with a stand worth 56 before Leckey departs. West goes for 39 with Rob O’Brien looking good as Ireland reach 111/3 at the halfway point of the chase. But runs dried up somewhat and the required rate climbed, too tall an ask in the end. Ireland bowling 34 wides to Zimbabwe's 20, almost mirroring the margin between the sides.

Ireland kicking on after a watchful start at an overcast Harare Sports Club in the first of their 5-match series against Zimbabwe. James West is the wicket to fall, but Freddie Ogilby looking fluent as he reaches an even time half century, in an excellent second wicket stand alongside Adam Leckey that was worth 114. Ireland 150/2 at the 30-overs mark. Leckey falls for 66, so two new batters in the middle in Rob O'Brien and Seb Dijkstra with the latter run out without scoring. Quickly followed by O'Brien and Yeates as Ireland falter. Can they regroup and finish strongly in the final 10 overs? No is the answer as they go from 171 for 2 in the 33rd to 236 all out. Well short of what they would have hoped for. Reuben Wilson strikes an early blow but the hosts going well to reach 54 for 1 at 10 - Murdazi unbeaten on 30. Ethan Marshall gets the second thanks to a routine catch behind. Can Ireland chip away? Yes, as Manoj bowls Blignaut with one that skidded on. Manoj strikes again as he has Senzere well caught for 43 to end a stand of 61. This game could well go all the way. Finely poised just after the halfway point of the chase at 121 for 4. First wicket for Seb Dijkstra at the second drinks break puts Ireland slightly ahead perhaps. Not much in it though. Excellent 6th wicket stand looks to be taking the hosts to victory. Just 45 needed off 11. Skipper Riley back on striving for badly needed breakthroughs. Second wicket for Wilson but too little too late as Zimbabwe win by 4 wickets.