ICC Europe/CricketEurope

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Scotland got their tournament off to the best possible start today, comprehensively defeating Denmark by nine wickets in a little over two hours at Shaw's Bridge.

Invited to bat in overcast conditions and on a pitch no doubt freshened by the morning's rain, the Danes immediately found themselves behind the game: Patrick Sadler and Peter Ross removed their top three in a flash, and there was no let-up from there.

Indeed, with both Jamie Bowick and Aman Bailwal claiming a brace of wickets, and with Sadler and Ross - who finished with the enviable figures of 10-6-7-3 - returning to help Kyle Smith polish off the tail, no Danish batsman was allowed to post double figures. In fact, none got past five, the final total of 55 boosted only by 20 extras.

Such a target was unlikely ever to challenge a strong Scottish batting line-up, and - ultimately - it did not: Freddie Coleman and Matthew Cross both cleared the ropes, and though Cross would be ousted by Sohaib Zahid, it took only six overs for the match to be finished.

Meanwhile, at Upritchard Park, Bangor, holders Ireland defeated Guernsey by 35 runs, but it was far from a convincing performance from the pre-tournament favourites.

Following a rain-delayed start, Guernsey won the toss and chose to field. Their decision seemed to have been an excellent one as Ireland slumped to 32 for five in the 10th over, due to some excellent bowling by Matthew Renouf and some rather poor shot selection by the Irish top order.

Nevertheless, Andrew McBrine and Eoghan Conway settled in to rescue the situation for Ireland as they added 88 for the sixth wicket. McBrine (36) displayed much skill in working the ball in all directions while Conway struck five boundaries. When they were separated, Graeme McCarter joined Conway and they added 44 together before Conway was bowled by Thomas by Still for 44. A late flourish saw Ireland reach a final tally of 190 when wicketkeeper Simon Olphert was lbw to Max Ellis. For Guernsey, Renouf took four for 33 and Matthew Breban three for 38.

Guernsey soon fell behind the clock when their turn came to bat. After five overs, there was just one run on the board and that a wide. The tempo soon changed, however, as Robert Le Corre moved into attacking mode, striking half a dozen boundaries before he was caught off the bowling of McBrine. His departure led to a much slower scoring rate as Isaac Damerell and Josh Kirk struggled to pierce the inner ring, adding 33 for the second wicket but taking 16 overs to do so. Tom Kirk soon followed and when Adam Martell and Damerell (24 from 102 balls) both fell before the hundred came up, Guernsey needed 93 from 12 overs.

The remaining wickets fell at regular intervals, although Joe Alvarez struck a breezy 33 from 28 balls before being run out attempting a second run. Shane Getkate was the most succesful Irish bowler, taking three for 23 while George Dockrell and Jordan Coghlan each claimed two victims.