A damaging defeat to the host nation two days ago meant victories of Scotland and Afghanistan might not prove enough to progress.

Having been put into bat by Scotland, Ireland suffered an early blow when Paul Stirling was caught and bowled by Brad Wheal for a duck.

Andy Balbirnie rose to the occasion for Ireland, though, as he produced a superb innings to make a century, before eventually falling for 105.

Brothers Niall and Kevin O’Brien contributed 70 and 46 runs respectively as Ireland finished on a total of 271-9.

Scotland’s captain Kyle Coetzer led their run chase, top scoring with 61.

But, while Richard Berrington, Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt all contributed over 30 runs, Scotland lost wickets with regularity.

It proved their undoing, as four wickets from Boyd Ranking helped Ireland bowl Scotland out for 246.

The result leaves Scotland second in the Super Six standings on five points, with Zimbabwe top on the same number with a greater run rate and a match in hand.

Ireland are level with third placed West Indies on four points, with Afghanistan two points behind but looking a distant prospect for qualification.

Zimbabwe and the West Indies are set to meet tomorrow in a potentially crucial match in Harare.