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 today.
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."
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