Scotland v England (One Day International)
It was a record-breaking day for Scottish cricket at the Grange (Edinburgh) yesterday as they scored their highest ever run total in a One Day International (ODI) match, securing Scotland’s biggest victory in their cricketing history with a six-run victory over England.
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Scotland showed their intent right from the start of the match making England the current number one ODI side in the world look poor. Scotland’s opening partnership scored 106 from 88 balls, hitting eighteen fours and two sixes as captain Kyle Coetzer scored 58 and Matthew Cross made 48 from just 39 balls.
Scotland then increased the pressure on the visitors as Callum MacLeod came to the crease making an unbeaten 140 hitting sixteen fours and three sixes, from just 94 balls, whilst at the crease he was assisted by Richard Berrington (39) & George Munsey (55).
After the game the man of match Callum MacLeod said, “To have the number one team in the world here in Edinburgh and to create that energy from the crowd, whilst setting a total like that is outstanding. It’s certainly the best games of cricket I’ve been involved in and a great day in Scottish cricket history.”
Eoin Morgan’s side didn’t give up on the game and came out fighting from the start of the innings as Jason Roy hit 39 from 32 balls, whilst his opening partner Jonny Bairstow hit an excellent 105 from just 59 balls including twelve fours and six sixes.
England then lost their way a little slipping from 220-2 to 276-7 losing five wickets for just fifty-six runs. Liam Plunkett (47 not out) and Moeen Ali (46) continued the fight, but last man Mark Wood was lbw to Safyaan Sharif from the fifth ball of the 49th over and the visitors were all out for 365.
It is a wonderful result for Scotland, who have been improving steadily since the 2015 World Cup and were only denied a place in the 2019 tournament when rain stopped their match against West Indies in the qualifying tournament in March.
England, so impressive in limited-overs cricket in recent years, this first defeat by Scotland can be mentioned in the same breath as the Twenty20 humblings by the Netherlands, and World Cup losses to Ireland and Bangladesh.
Speaking after the match, Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said, “We need to continue this good form and ensure this is not a one-off result. The team created an electric atmosphere and it’s something we need to do more. It was an outstanding game and the guys did unbelievably well to knock over the number one side in the world.”
Match Details
Scotland – Coetzer, Cross, MacLeod, Berrington, Munsey, Budge, Leask, Sharif, Watt, Sole, Evans
England – Bairstow, Roy, Hales, Root, Morgan, Billings, Ali, Rashid, Plunkett, Willey, Wood
Umpires – Allan Haggo, Marais Erasmus, Handunnettige Dharmasena, Ian Ramage, Ranjan Madugalle
