By John Kenny in Malahide
Ireland eased to a second consecutive win over Scotland at Malahide to win by three wickets with just over five overs to spare to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match one-day international series.
Put into bat, Scotland recovered from a stuttering start and at one stage were 11-3.
But a maiden one-day century from Richie Berrington, who remained unbeaten on 101, and a 40 from Josh Davey saw Scotland all out for 221 in the final over.
Max Sorenson was Ireland’s leading wicket-taker with four for 40 off his 10 overs.
Chasing 222 for victory in reply, Ireland lost their two openers early as Andrew Balbirnie went for 16 and John Anderson departed for 12.
Andrew Pointer, who survived a couple of lbw shouts, went for 21 as he helped to move the score onto 103 by the 23rd over and captain Kevin O’Brien then took Ireland's innings on as he made 67 off 65 deliveries, laying a platform for his side before he went in the 31st over, caught behind.
The haul marked first back-to-back half-centuries for O’Brien at international level in seven years.
Stuart Thompson, who made 39, and John Mooney who made 27, pushed Ireland towards their target, and Max Sorenson hit the winning runs in the 45th over to take Ireland over the line.
The final game of the series takes place at Malahide on Friday.
IRELAND 225/7 (44.2 Overs, K O'Brien 67, S Thompson 29, J Mooney 27*, A Poynter 21, A Evans 2-34, J Davey 2-44)
SCOTLAND 221 all out (49.5 overs, R Berrington, J Davey 40, A Evans 22, M Sorensen 4-40, C Young 3-39)
