Scots spoil Mooney’s comeback
In a radio interview the night before the match, Mooney had spoken for the first time of his hospitalisation with depression, his struggles with alcohol, and his subsequent recovery programme after he left Irelandâs tour of the West Indies in February to seek treatment for the illness.
Perhaps energised by the positive reaction to his comments, the 32-year-old played with freedom in hitting his highest ODI score, and his first ODI half-century in four years, as Ireland posted 241-9 in their 50 overs.
The Dubliner combined fierce hitting with delicate improvisation in hitting 12 fours and two sixes in a 77-ball knock, and was accorded a standing ovation from his team-mates as he left the field after falling just short of a maiden international limited-overs century.
Scotlandâs Majid Haq, wicketless in the first two matches, finished with ODI best figures of 5-54 as the wearing Malahide pitch finally proved helpful to the spinner.
Given the erratic form of the Scotland top order in the previous two matches, Ireland were marginal favourites at the break to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
But Calum MacLeod (116*) and Hamish Gardiner (89) put on 179 for the second wicket as Scotland secured a first ever one-day international win on Irish soil at the seventh attempt.
Mooney, who had been promoted up the order to number six, says the disappointment of missing out on a first ODI century only hit him when he reached the dressing room.
âHopefully, when I hang up the boots I wonât be left thinking that that was my only opportunity,â he said.
âWhen the big boys come back into the side, you donât get 25 overs to bat in this team!â
Ireland coach Phil Simmons, whose wife Jayce needed medical attention after being struck full on the ankle by a MacLeod six into the membersâ area, felt his side badly underperformed in the dead-rubber fixture.
âNothing was up to scratch today: batting, fielding or bowling. We had a good series but it was lacking today when we needed to step it up,â he said.
