SCOTLAND launched their T20 Tri-Series campaign with a disappointing defeat to old foes Ireland in Deventer last night.

Just six days after their historic ODI win over England, the Scots have already suffered three reverses in the short format following their midweek losses to Pakistan.

For the second time in three games they found themselves chasing in excess of 200 runs and for a brief period it looked as if Kyle Coetzer’s men might rise to the challenge. Needing 206, Coetzer and opening partner George Munsey brought up the fifty in the sixth over – just a few balls more than their Irish counterparts had taken.

Coetzer hit a couple of crunching boundaries to set the tone but Munsey soon captured the mood, taking 16 off one over from Peter Chase with two fours and a huge straight six.

Ireland captain Gary Wilson rotated his bowlers in an attempt to find the breakthrough and the tactic paid off when George Dockrell rapped Coetzer on the pads and was given the lbw verdict to send the Scottish captain on his way for a 22-ball 33.

Munsey continued his assault on the Irish bowlers with a four and six from consecutive Barry McCarthy deliveries only to depart as the wily Dockrell struck again, the batsman sweeping straight into the hands of deep square leg.

Munsey had made 41 from just 24 balls with four boundaries and two maximums but his departure left Scotland on 82-2 in the ninth over and with two new batsmen at the crease.

It was the invitation Ireland needed to turn the screw and they did so effectively as the runs dried up and the pressure grew on the Scottish batsmen.

Calum MacLeod holed out attempting to accelerate while Richie Berrington was just getting into the groove on 29 when he also departed in the pursuit of runs.

By then the asking rate had rocketed to 76 from the last four overs. It was a lost cause with the Scottish batsmen playing out the closing overs tamely to finish on 159-5.

Earlier, it already looked ominous in the first over when Paul Stirling hit Mark Watt for three consecutive boundaries after Ireland had elected to bat.

The introduction of Ali Evans brought Scotland the breakthrough, James Shannon offering a catch to Dylan Budge.

However, the arrival of Andrew Balbirnie provided no let-up in the ferocious onslaught as runs continued to come at an alarming rate.

Balbirnie, who scored a century against the Scots during the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe, again took a liking to the bowling on offer, Evans being despatched through the covers and then pulled to deep fine leg in the space of three deliveries. Such was the scoring rate that Ireland brought up their 50 in just 4.4 overs as all the bowlers suffered at the hands of Stirling and Balbirnie.

Skipper Coetzer next turned to Sussex paceman Stu Whittingham, making his T20 international debut in place of the resting Safyaan Sharif, but the boundaries kept on coming, Stirling racing to a half-century from only 28 balls.

However, having struck ten boundaries, he attempted to go for his first maximum off Michael Leask only to find the hands of Chris Sole.

Hampshire’s Sole was in the action again soon after, producing slick work to run out Simi Singh as Scotland finally stalled Ireland’s momentum.

The respite was brief, though, as Balbirnie greeted Watt’s return to the attack much as Stirling had at the start, three boundaries in four balls bringing up Ireland’s 100 in the tenth over.

If Stirling had been rapid in reaching his half-century, Balbirnie was even faster, consecutive boundaries off Berrington taking him to the landmark from only 26 deliveries with nine fours.

The feeling he was merely warming-up was confirmed when he opened his shoulders to launch a Leask delivery back over the bowler’s head for a huge six.

Wilson was naturally content to play second fiddle to his on-song partner but the Irish captain also demonstrated some impressive hitting especially when sending a Sole delivery soaring over the rope at long-off.

Balbirnie departed soon after, edging to Watt at gulley to give Whittingham his first T20I wicket but the batsman’s 40-ball 74 had already ensured his side a huge total.

And Wilson took charge in the closing overs, becoming the third player to record a half-century before falling for 59 to Evans in the final over as Ireland reached 205-5.

Scotland will bid for revenge when the sides meet again today.