RYAN WATSON'S batting shone through layered blankets of black cloud in Dublin yesterday but a worrying lack of support saw European supremacy elude Scotland yet again.

Seven times now the Scots have tried and failed to win this tournament, twice watching the crown go to the Netherlands and England Amateurs and now three times to Ireland. It will be another two years before they can rustle up another bid.

Never at the vanguard of priorities, this crown is a coy beast that, on days like yesterday, is always tantalisingly within reach, only to dance off with another suitor. Leading the league table from the Irish on run rate, Scotland started the abbreviated decider in sumptuous style, but when Watson and Gavin Hamilton left the crease they took with them any form of control over the result.

Scotland's 152 for nine off 35 overs was palpably insufficient and on this occasion the bowlers erred too many times to create pressure around the home batsmen. In the end Ireland sauntered to their adjusted target of 128 for the loss of three wickets, with 19 balls to spare, Gary Wilson and Andre Botha making it look easy with a perfect display of calculated aggression.

Blain raised the visitors' hopes early by beating the defences of William Porterfield, and Niall O'Brien's confident start was reined in when he played on to the nagging Gordon Drummond, but thereafter boundaries were plentiful and Ireland stayed well clear of the D/L threshold.

"The batting hasn't been good enough for a reasonable amount of time now and we just didn't get enough runs again – bottom line," said fast bowler John Blain, the tournament's top bowler by a distance with 11 wickets at a cost of 118 runs, from 41 overs. "It hurts to see the Irish win that trophy again, and in their own backyard - it really hurts."

Play didn't begin until 2.15 and two further rain breaks caused adjustments to the equation, but it was enough time for Watson to reminder north Dublin locals of the power of his swishing blade.

Three years ago Scotland's top batsman scored 94 off 99 balls to take the ICC Trophy Final away from Ireland and Watson's innings yesterday was just as sweet, if slightly shorter.

However, the undercard flattered to deceive, giving up a position of strength to ultimately post a modest score. They were 60 for no wicket in the eighth over, then 100-4 after 20 and 124-7 after 30.

The Irish won the toss and put Scotland in, but fears of an ordeal for the batsmen were quickly dispelled as Watson rattled to a half-century off 42 balls.

Gavin Hamilton set the tone by guiding the first ball, a full delivery from Peter Connell, through third man for four, and Watson was soon into his stride. The third over cost 13 runs as an overthrow flew to the boundary and Scotland's captain thumped two further boundaries.

Hamilton's driving, both straight and through the covers, was no less impressive and together the pair were sitting pretty on 46 from just six overs. Watson struck Andre Botha high into the clouds for a six over long-off but at 60-0 in the ninth over, Hamilton was bowled by Alex Cusack, trying to flick to leg.

The Irish fielders had become increasingly subdued under attack but now they sprang onto the balls of their feet, and Qasim Sheikh was tightly scrutinised by Botha and Cusack. The rookie No 3 failed to get his feet moving and Botha soon ran one through him.

Watson, so powerful off the back foot and outside off, continued on his merry way but charged down the crease at the second delivery of Kyle McCallan's off spin and mistimed a big swish to be stumped by Niall O'Brien.

When rain forced the players off the Scots were 97-3 in the 19th over, with Colin Smith on 15 and Fraser Watts having nicked a four through the slips to get off the mark.

The steady decline of an innings that had promised so much continued upon the resumption. Smith ambled out of his crease and McCallan threw the ball wide and out of reach for another stumping, and then, 100-4 off 20 overs became 100-5 when the first ball of Connell's second spell was inside-edged by Neil McCallum, O'Brien taking a flying catch to his left.

Watts should have guided the tail through the last ten overs after getting his eye in, but he was deceived by Connell's slower ball. Boundaries were now as common as snakes in Ireland and only 29 runs came from the last five overs, Drummond's ability to hit straight back over the bowler's head the only thing left to admire.