THE contrast was inescapable.
As Scotland reflected upon their 12th consecutive defeat in the World Cup, Ireland were securing their third win of this tournament against Zimbabwe in Hobart, furthering their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.
It was the latest distillation of how far Irish and Scottish cricket has diverged since July 13, 2005. That was the date when Scotland crushed Ireland in the final of the ICC Trophy (which doubled as the qualifier for the 2007 World Cup), seemingly reaffirming their cricketing superiority over the Emerald Isle.
No one present in Dublin that day would have predicted the trajectory of Irish and Scottish cricket in the next decade. While Ireland have recorded victories over Test nations in three consecutive World Cups and established themselves as the flagbearers of the associate world, Scotland have lagged behind. They were not one of the four associate qualifiers for the 2011 World Cup, or the six qualifiers for the 2014 World T20. Despite Kyle Coetzer's magnificent 156 against Bangladesh in Nelson on Thursday, Scotland's victory over Bangladesh in a T20 game in 2012 remains their only victory over a Test-playing nation.
That is unlikely to change this World Cup: only games against Sri Lanka and Australia await before Scotland return. Had Afghanistan been beaten in Dunedin, as they should from a position of 97-7 in pursuit of 207 to win, the perception of Scotland's World Cup campaign would be very different. Scotland might reasonably regard their other thee games as a modest success. If they can perform well in their last matches, when defeats are already priced in, Scotland will have cause to regard 2015 as the best of their three World Cup campaigns, even if there is little competition for that accolade.
But Ireland have proved again that they have an enviable self-belief and tenacity against Test-playing sides. Although their seam bowling suffers from a paucity of pace and accuracy, Ireland's batting has vindicated their ostentatious confidence. Having posted 331 for eight, yesterday's pulsating five-run victory over Zimbabwe was the second time they have exceeded 300 against a full member this tournament, after their heist of 305 against the West Indies. While 36-year-old Ed Joyce has underpinned both displays with masterful innings, Ireland are developing a conveyor belt of batsmen: Paul Stirling hit 92 against the West Indies and Andy Balbirnie 97 against Zimbabwe. Both players are only 24.
To progress, Ireland will most likely need to pull off one more shock in their final two pool games against India and Pakistan, and that task was made harder by Pakistan's surprise 29-run Duckworth/Lewis win over South Africa earlier so their clash in Adelaide on March 15 looms as a potential decider.
It was only last month that Scotland trounced Ireland by 179 runs in a World Cup warm-up game in Sydney which left some reckoning that they might just produce a better display than Ireland in the World Cup. That notion has proved fanciful. Despite the handicap of a lack of fixtures against Test-playing opposition - they played just nine ODIs against full members between the 2011 and 2015 World Cups - Ireland have developed a set-up in which players approach games against Test opposition with an air of expectancy.
Test cricket is shaping up as Ireland's next, and greatest, ambition. The winners of the next Intercontinental Cup, which runs from 2015 to 2017, will play-off against the lowest-ranked Test nation - probably Zimbabwe - in 2018 for the right to Test status.
While Scotland also have this theoretical chance, it would be a surprise if the associate representatives in the Test Challenge come from a nation other than Ireland or Afghanistan. They are the two nations who have just been added to the main rankings list of 12 ODI nations in the next four-year cycle, another reflection of their desire to leave the associate world - including Scotland - behind.
But if Scotland should be envious of Ireland's ascent, the new chief executive of Cricket Scotland also has a glorious opportunity to make the team into the 'new Ireland'. Scotland already have six players in county cricket, a fully professional squad in the World Cup and are building a national cricket base in Stirling: a far firmer foundation than when Ireland began their rise. The frustration is - barring an extraordinary day in Hobart - Scotland will leave the World Cup still short of a flagship win.
Pool B: Pakistan 222 (Misbah-ul-Haq 56) v South Africa 202 (A B de Villiers 77). Pakistan win by 29 runs (D/L method).
Ireland 331-8 innings complete (E C Joyce 112, A Balbirnie 97) v Zimbabwe 326 (B R M Taylor 121, S C Williams 96, A R Cusack 4-32)
Ireland win by 5 runs.
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