MAGGIE Thatcher! Geoffrey Boycott! Nigel Farage! Theresa May! Your boys took a hell of a beating!
The underdogs rampant of Scotland yesterday took on England, the world No 1s in one-day cricket, and gave them a hell of a thumping ... actually they won by only six runs and the skin of their teeth, but it was our first victory over England in that format of the game.
In the most sensational cricket match ever played in Scotland, at The Grange in Edinburgh, the home side in the one-off game leapt out of the blocks and never looked back. Record after record tumbled, with Scotland’s batting magnificent on a superb pitch with a fast outfield surrounded by 6000 fans who ended the afternoon delirious.
Becoming the first Scot to make a century against England, Calum MacLeod hit 140 runs – his photographer father Donald was covering the match – as the Scots raced to a total of 371 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs. It was the highest score in Scotland’s ODI career, and the highest total England have ever had to chase, but Johnny Bairstow soon had the Scottish fans worried.
He smashed a superb century off just 54 balls and suddenly England were on top and cruising to victory. But Bairstow was caught on 105, then a stupid mistake by Alex Hales saw England’s Joe Root run out for just 29 with England on 220.
More mistakes followed by England until finally, with the penultimate ball of the penultimate over, Safyaan Sharif trapped last man Mark Wood leg before wicket.
Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said: “It was an outstanding game and the guys did unbelievably well to knock over the top side in the world.”
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