Teamwork is key to Scots’ success, says Macleod

Calum Macleod believes competition for places has been one of the keys to Scotland’s winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Scots came through the first week of action with a perfect record of three wins from three and will today attempt to clinch top spot in Group B when they face hosts Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe also boast three wins and today’s victors will take four points through to the Super Six phase, while the losers will have to be content with two.

Macleod said: “It’s a massive game for us and it will be a tough one – playing them in their home conditions – but the guys are all really looking forward to it.”

Macleod got the Scots off to a flier when his brilliant 157no helped beat tournament favourites Zimbabwe in the opening game.

But the former Durham and Warwickshire batsman reckons team-work has been key. He added: “A few guys have put their hands up with the bat which has been good to see but the bowling has really excelled.

“The competition for places in the fast bowling department is definitely one of our strengths. It is so exciting to see five or six genuinely fast bowlers vying for places.”

● Jonny Bairstow continued his imperious form with the fastest century by an England opener to seal a sixth successive one-day international series win with a seven-wicket trouncing of New Zealand.

Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid shared six wickets to restrict the hosts to an underpar 223 all out after Eoin Morgan won the toss in his 200th ODI.

Then Bairstow (104) hit six sixes and nine fours in his 58-ball century as his opening stand of 155 with Alex Hales (61) made memorably short work of New Zealand in this decider at Hagley Oval.

England had 17.2 overs to spare as they extended a serieswinning sequence which dates back almost 12 months to a 3-0 success in the West Indies.

Calum Macleod says today’s game is “massive”.