A sensational innings by Mark Adair was not enough to get Ireland over the line as they won the battle but lost the war at the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament in Edinburgh.

The first objective was to reach next summer’s Finals, which they achieved with four wins and a no-result on Thursday, but Scotland will head to the USA and West Indies as the No.1 European qualifier after a thrilling eight-run victory at The Grange.

Interim captain Paul Stirling admitted the “score was maybe in our favour at the end” – getting a lot closer than expected after 20-year-old Bradley Currie whipped out the top four inside five overs – but that was entirely due to Adair, who, coming in at 89 for six in the 10th over, then blasted 72 from 36 balls, with four fours and six sixes.

If he had stayed until the end, Ireland would have won but, unfortunately for him, Currie had one more over to bowl – and when Adair tried to hit his first ball for another boundary, he only skied it to backward point. Game up.

Curtis Campher had also gone at a strike rate of 200, hitting three sixes in his 28 which went someway to make up for his bowling. The rest of the attack, however, stuck to their task, and Stirling was not displeased by their efforts, believing that 214 was a fair target on a good pitch.

But he had no doubt where the game was won and lost.

“There were two clear phases in both innings, the third to the sixth overs (when Scotland added 45 runs and when Ireland lost three wickets) which decided the game, and that’s why we came second,” said Stirling.

“But we have a lot to look forward to, this was the first game in our build-up to the World Cup and we have a bit to do.”

Stirling could also have mentioned the Scottish fielding. A world-class effort to dismiss George Dockrell on the backward square boundary, a superb running catch to end his own charge at the top and that man Currie preventing another Adair six with an incredible leap all proved to be crucial factors in deciding the outcome.

But when Andrew Balbirnie, caught behind, Lorcan Tucker, edging to short third man – both in the first over – and Harry Tector, skying his first attacking shot to cover, score only five runs between them, it was always going to be mission impossible.

Meanwhile, the winners of this weekend’s T20 Finals in Ulster will have home advantage in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals next weekend.

The draw has paired the winners of the NCU showdown between holders CIYMS and Waringstown at The Lawn tomorrow against Munster winners Cork County, while either Killyclooney or Brigade, who meet in the Faughan Valley Cup decider on Monday evening at Ardmore, will host Leinster champions Balbriggan.

Both All-Ireland Semi-Finals will be played on Sunday, August 6.