Safyaan Sharif believes victory over England can make up for World Cup elimination

Safyaan Sharif believes victory over England can make up for World Cup elimination

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Scotland's hero in the five-run win over England, Safyaan Sharif has stated his team's actions spoke louder than any words could and the victory makes up for the WC qualifier heartbreak. Kyle Coetzer has also echoed Sharif’s statement and added that he is extremely proud of the team’s performance.

The fans in Edinburgh were in for a treat yesterday as Scotland created history by securing their first ODI victory against No.1 ODI side England after making a whopping 371 on the back of Callum MacLeod's lightning innings 140* of just 94 balls. In the process, Scotland became the first associate nation to score 350+ score and then edged out England to secure their first win against the neighbours. 

Sharif, who got the better of Mark Wood, England's last man, with a superb yorker to seal the six-run win, insisted that the happiness of this achievement atoned for their nerve-wrecking five-run defeat against West Indies in the World Cup qualifiers in Harare in March, mostly due to the lack of DRS and the controversial DLS rule, as the game eventually cost Scotland a place in the 2019 World Cup.

"I'm not going to say anything. They'll have seen it all today so hopefully, they'll click onto that.(Talking about 10 team World Cup). I mean England's a brilliant side, everyone knows that, and to get a victory, scoring 370 against a top quality side, means the world to Scotland, so well done once again,” Sharif was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“It was just an incredible effort from the lads, they've just proven once again that they are capable of playing at this standard, and they did really well throughout the innings. Up top, it was tough in the second half but we managed to pull things back and did the job, so really... I'm lost for words, I don't know what to say."

Kyle Coetzer also appreciated the team's effort to bounce back from the disappointment of not qualifying for the World Cup next year and putting up such a strong performance against a quality side like England.

"I was extremely proud first of all, but it is a trait we are starting to get very, very good at. With ball in hand, we've been very good over the last few years, and especially coming off the back of Zimbabwe, this being our first game of the year, it's been an outstanding performance.” Said Coetzer.

“Look, 371 played 365, it's an outstanding game, bowlers found it hard on a flat wicket with small boundaries, but it's great to be this side of the fence. It is a hugely special day for us. Creating history is what our coach (Grant Bradburn) framed these games against England and Pakistan as and that's what we've done." He added.

Scotland will now play two T20I against Pakistan on June 12 and June 13.

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