Watching your best friend woo a girl you fancy is always a moment filled with mixed emotion.
On the one hand, you’re annoyed that she has chosen him over you.
How, you ask introspectively, sipping your increasingly bitter bitter at the bar, could she have made such an error?
I’m equally good looking and funny and charming. At least I think I am.
But, on the other hand, you’re also happy. You’re friend has achieved something that he’ll savour. And, anyway, you’d rather it was him than some of the other choppers at the bar, right?
I imagine Scotland went through a similar emotional rollercoaster watching Ireland trump the West Indies this morning.
It was a remarkable victory. Yes, Ireland has form as giant killers; and yes, the West Indies are in poor form, lacking two of their star players and seemingly in equal disarray on the field.
But it was not so much the victory itself as the way in which it was conducted. Ireland was not just lucky. When it came to picking up the girl in the bar, they just had better game.
Scotland must look to their in cricketing terms at least best friend across the sea when they face New Zealand this evening (22:00 GMT).
The Saltire’s will wish that they had been the associate nation to pick up the first Test scalp: but they will not win this game.
New Zealand is a far stronger side than the West Indies the co-hosts are in with a good shout of winning the tournament.
They have already outclassed multiple-World Cup winners Sri Lanka.
No, Scotland will have to satisfy itself with watching its friend win the girl at this fixture.
But that does not mean the national team should be without hope.
Mommsen’s men have the chance against New Zealand to cut their teeth. A strong performance here a defeat of, say, under 50 runs would leave the likes of Bangladesh and Afghanistan quaking in their boots.
A very strong performance tonight and it would not even be hyperbole to suggest that England the greatest prize of all could be within their grasp.
Ultimately, Scotland’s aim for the tournament must be to win games.
They will not do that tonight but they can set up the momentum that will see that happen in later fixtures.
Tonight, Scotland may look wistfully after the Irish, prize in hand. For the nights later in the tournament though, it could be a very different story.