By John Kenny in Malahide
Ireland have beaten Scotland by seven wickets in the first of three One-Day Internationals.
After restricting the visitors to 172, Ireland took the win shortly before 5pm, Kevin O'Brien ensuring they reached their target for just three wickets taken.
Ireland won the toss on a glorious early September morning in Malahide and put Scotland into bat.
Irish skipper O’Brien, who is deputising for the unavailable William Porterfield, will be more than happy to have bowled Scotland out for 172 in the 41st over.
The home side’s top wicket-taker was 24-year-old Craig Young, playing in his first ODI, as he took five for 46 off his ten overs to help limit Scotland to 172, with Michael Leask the visitors' top scorer on 50.
Ireland, chasing 173 for victory started slowly in reply, but there was no need to hurry as Scotland didn’t have enough runs to work with.
O’Brien helped take his side to victory with an unbeaten 56, which took him past the 2000 ODI run mark, as Andrew Balbirnie chipped in with a career best of 38 in his fifth ODI.
Ireland reached their target scoring 173 in the 37th over.
They will hope to have the influential George Dockrell back in the fold for Wednesday's game after he missed out today with a shoulder injury.
