Our boys snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as the Grange crowd are allowed to enjoy a tune of glory for all ages
IT was a day that had demanded to be played out to tunes of glory. Scotland had never beaten England at cricket. Could there be a rousing chorus of Ode to Joy as the underdog finally bit back? The answer is a resounding, decibel-bellowing yes. This was the greatest cricket match ever in Scotland. It was won after Scotland had threatened to come up short. Not Ronnie Corbett short, but agonisingly, gut-wrenchingly gnat’s eyebrow short. It was a victory that confounded the national stereotype. Scotland snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was all accompanied by a soundtrack at the Grange in Edinburgh — an area so posh it has a hallmark as a postcode — that was wonderfully varied on a day when triumph was made all the more rousing by its final, sudden drama. Half an hour before Scotland’s cricketers took on their English counterparts, the public address system boomed out Eminem. This, one wagers, is the first time the Detroit rapper has been heard on a Stockbridge morning since mater and pater headed for a ski-ing break in the Alps, leaving an ‘empty’ or a ‘temporarily vacant’ as it may be known in this most douce of parts. A more traditional sound followed. It was the overture to the making of a history. The skirl of pipes heralded an afternoon so Braveheart that one expected Mel Gibson to come in, at least, at No 11. On the anniversary of Leigh Griffiths bowling two googlies to Joe Hart and 20 years after Scotland opened the World Cup against Brazil, the national cricket team took on the No 1 limited overs team on the planet. They beat them deservedly. The hero of the sun-kissed hours was Calum MacLeod, whom the denizens of Stockbridge may describe as a Weegie, though Clattering Calum has a heritage that stretches back to Benbecula, South Uist. He was yesterday a Highlander with a claymore. MacLeod smote an innings of Biblical proportions, giving Goliath a doing. His 140 included a masterclass in the use of the sweep shot, though his propensity to use an array of blows that owe much to baseball prompted the thought that MacLeod in his muscular pomp was not so much Babe Ruth but rather Grown-up Ruth. He was watched by 4,000
entranced souls in the stands and by one particularly interested spectator on the boundary. His dad, Donald, takes photographs for a living. He could be forgiven yesterday if his work consisted of enlarging the family album. His son contributed heavily to a victory that stretches in significance far beyond a day in the sun. He showed that Scotland, cruelly and dreadfully deprived of a place in next year’s World Cup, could compete with the world’s best. He epitomised an approach that was adventurous, positive and hugely entertaining. He provided compelling evidence, if any more were needed, that cricket’s biggest event will be dreadfully compromised by being restricted to just ten teams. Scotland will be missed at the World Cup. This statement can be made with conviction and sincerity. Ironically, rain threatened to deprive Scotland of a place at the top table. Its intervention yesterday afternoon would have given them the match on the Duckworth Lewis rule. The sun obstinately shone. It’s a bad day when one can’t rely on rain on a Scottish summer Sunday. But they had to depend instead on skill, grit and endurance. It was enough. If MacLeod was the hero, he was joined in the slaughter of the England bowling by every Scot who preceded him and then joined him at the crease. It was appropriate that a series of Scottish bests fell in the presence of Charlie Watts, a member of a popular beat combo. The Rolling Stones had played Edinburgh the night before and their drummer watched a match where records were smashed to a regular beat. These included: best partnership v England (broken twice in the match), best individual score versus England, best Scotland score v a Full Member, and best ODI score by any Associate against a Full Member. Honourable mention in despatches must be made of Matthew Cross’ 48 runs, Kyle Coetzer, 58 on his 50th cap, Richie Berrington (39), George Munsey (55) and Dylan Budge (11, though off only nine balls). The English reply was instantly dismissive, perhaps even imperious. If their bowlers had been somewhat lacking in imagination and direction, then their batsmen were focused and urgent. The poor, battered ball was regularly hit so far from Stockbridge that at times it threatened to hit a council house. Almost. This was a run chase that resembled Usain Bolt in its speed off the blocks. England reached 100 in the 10th over. Opener Jonny Bairstow reached his century so quickly it was almost rude, crashing 12 fours and six sixes en route for a third consecutive 100 in ODIs. There were some dissenting voices at Coetzer’s decision to employ spin early but he could have deployed a Gatling gun and the opposition would have deposited bullets in the stands. More pertinently, Scotland should have reviewed a not given lbw against Alex Hales. But, suddenly, Scotland came into the match. Wickets fell. Hopes rose. Then, gloriously, they were realised. A soft evening seemed destined to carry defeat on its gentle breeze but Safyaan Sharif took the last wicket in the second last over.
Flower of Scotland burst from the stands. Finally, gloriously, a tune of glory for the ages.