EDINBURGH: Scotland enjoyed the greatest victory in their cricket history by holding their nerve to beat world number one-ranked England by six runs in a thrilling one-day international at Edinburgh on Sunday.
Despite making a mammoth 371 for five, thanks mainly to Calum MacLeod´s brilliant 140 not out, Scotland were in danger of defeat as England´s Jonny Bairstow took advantage of a good pitch and short boundaries at the Grange to make 105.
But a middle-order collapse gave non-Test nation Scotland renewed hope.
England rallied again, thanks to a 71-run eighth-wicket partnership between Moeen Ali and Liam Plunkett.
But paceman Safyaan Sharif sealed Scotland´s victory with seven balls to spare when he had No.11 Mark Wood plumb lbw to spark a pitch invasion by jubilant home fans.
Scotland´s first win in international cricket over England came in their first match since they were cruelly denied a place at next year´s World Cup after a poor umpiring decision and rain saw them miss out in their final qualifier against the West Indies in Harare in March.
“I´m lost for words, I don´t know what to say,” Sharif told Sky Sports. “We´ve been waiting for this for so long. England are a brilliant side but scoring 371 against them means the world.”
The International Cricket Council´s decision to shrink the World Cup from 14 teams to 10 had already been heavily criticised long before Scotland and their fellow associate or non-Test nations impressed with the quality of their play in Zimbabwe.
Asked if Scotland had sent a message to the ICC with this win, Sharif replied: “I´m not going to say anything — they´ve seen it all today.”
